Body found in irrigation ditch identified as Utah man

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Authorities have identified a man whose body was found in an irrigation ditch near Shepherd in March.

The Billings Gazette reports (https://bit.ly/1QRT4f2 ) that dental records helped identify the man as 23-year-old John Erik Zander, of Salt Lake City.

Zander had last been seen in Billings and was reported missing on Aug. 20.

Employees of Billings Bench Water Association had discovered his body in the irrigation canal on March 15.

Yellowstone County Sheriff Mike Linder says in a news release that it’s still unclear how Zander ended up in the ditch. Authorities didn’t find any obvious signs of trauma on his body that would indicate foul play.

An investigation into his death is ongoing.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, https://www.billingsgazette.com