The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office is investigating human skeletal remains discovered Sunday in the St. Joe River near mile marker 23 on St. Joe River Road, a few miles downstream from Calder, Idaho. Authorities believe the remains may belong to Chantel Williams, a 24-year-old woman reported missing in December 2025.
Kayaker Alerts Authorities to Remains in St. Joe River
Patrol Sgt. Darius Dustin received a call around 12:30 p.m. Sunday from a kayaker who spotted what appeared to be remains in a shallow lagoon area of the river. The kayaker initially thought the remains were animal, but Dustin confirmed upon arrival that they were human. Sheriff Shawn Wehr and Shoshone County Coroner Rick Smith assisted in recovering the remains, which have since been sent to the Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office for formal identification.
Connection to Missing Woman Under Investigation
Williams was reported missing on December 13, 2025, after witnesses saw her enter the water upstream from where the remains were located. She had last been seen in the Marble Creek area of the St. Joe River region and was reported to be experiencing a mental health crisis at the time. The river was running high and fast due to severe flooding when she disappeared, complicating an initial search conducted with assistance from Silver Valley Search and Rescue.
Sheriff Wehr said his office suspects the remains may be Williams but is awaiting confirmation. “We’re awaiting the results from the Spokane Medical Examiner, who will call and communicate their office’s findings with our coroner,” Wehr said. He added that regardless of the outcome, the goal is to bring answers to the family. “No matter what the results are, we hope that by identifying the remains we can provide this person’s family with some closure.”
Williams’ family has been informed of the discovery. No official identification has been made at this time.
What Comes Next
The Spokane Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct the formal analysis needed to identify the remains and determine additional details. The Shoshone County Coroner’s Office will receive those findings once the examination is complete. Authorities have not released a timeline for when results are expected.
The St. Joe River corridor, which stretches through the mountains of the North Idaho Panhandle, has seen difficult search and recovery conditions in recent years due to seasonal flooding. This case underscores the dangers those conditions can pose, particularly during high-water periods. Residents and outdoor recreationists in the region are encouraged to remain aware of water conditions along the river system.
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