Body of missing woman in Idaho County recovered in Big Salmon River

The body of Marsha Hayes was recovered in her vehicle in the Big Salmon River ending search efforts that began in May. 

The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office and United Search Corp, a non-profit that uses technology to aid search efforts, recovered Hayes and the vehicle Thursday. Doug Bishop of United Search Corp was requested to search the Big Salmon River. Bishop used a side scan sonar towed by a jet boat and located a vehicle underwater about ¼ of a mile downstream from a crash site identified in May. Bishop used an underwater camera and went to the location and confirmed the body of Hayes was inside the vehicle and was then recovered, according to a news release from the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office.

Hayes was last seen on the morning of May 22 driving northbound on U.S. Highway 95 from Riggins in a gray 2006 Acura MDX with her Australian shepherd, Maggie. Vehicle parts and a license plate were found along the river May 24 and were confirmed to belong to Hayes, according to the news release.   

“We are truly sorry for the Hayes family’s loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Marsha’s family and friends as they navigate this difficult time,” the sheriff’s office said in the news release.

Idaho County Sheriff Doug Ulmer thanked the United Search Corp and Bishop for their assistance in “providing closure for the Hayes family,” according to the news release. Ulmer also thanked the family and friends of Hayes who assisted in the search as well as Riggins Fire/EMS, Idaho Transportation Department, Idaho State Police, Torch Towing, Idaho County Coroner’s Office, Shawn Davis with Little Salmon River Builders and the community of Riggins.