Unidentified Remains Found In Little Laramie River During Search For 71 Year Old Man

On July 3rd, 71 year old Keith William Lantz went missing near Centennial,WY. Lantz's wife reported him missing at 8pm. On Sunday, September 11th the latest search proved beneficial as unidentified remains and clothing were found.

Seventy-two days had passed since Lantz went missing. Prior search and recovery operations in July were hampered by high water levels caused by flooding. Sunday's recovery operation was the largest volunteer turnout in Albany County history. There were 162 volunteers who turned out to aid search and recovery operations. Wyoming Technical Institute (WYOTech) provided 103 volunteers and the UW ROTC program also provided a large number of volunteers.

Besides the volunteers several agencies from Wyoming and Colorado participated in the search and recover on Sunday. Agencies involved include Larimer County Search and Rescue, The Centennial Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Albany County Search and Rescue, The Laramie Fire Department and others.

Sunday's search and recovery efforts ended with the discovery of clothing along with remains including bones and tissue that were found along the river bank. Officials say the river bank had been undercut by as much as 5 to 8 feet. Authorities believe Lantz fell into the river after a  part of the river bank collapsed. The remains have been sent to the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology where they will be analyzed to determine if they are human or not.

Information courtesy of the Laramie Boomerang