The man who was found in critical condition in the woods near Lincoln several weeks ago has been identified as Lee Klette of Great Falls, 42 years old.
A rented Ford Mustang was found near a trailhead on August 20th. Four days later, a man walking the gulch with a metal detector heard moaning and found Klette about two miles away from the car.
Sheriff Dutton said he had an electrical cord wrapped around one of his legs.
Klette, who works for FedE x in Great Falls, according to Dutton, was taken to a hospital in Missoula, where he’s undergone several surgeries for internal injuries.
Sheriff Dutton suspects foul play, but so far Klette isn’t providing any details to investigators.
Dutton said, “If he would have died, we would have had a homicide on our hands, had it not been for the gentleman from Great Falls who was basically prospecting for gold with a metal detector.”
Sheriff Dutton said investigators found a cell phone and are trying to track down a man they believe was with Klette. They’re also working with the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force.
