GREAT FALLS — The Fergus County Sheriff's Office has released the name and suspected cause of death of a man who was found in a field near the community of Moore on Monday, December 2, 2024.
The man has been identified as 40-year old Kevin Burshia of Poplar, Montana.
The Sheriff's Office said in a news release on Thursday, December 5, that officers received a report of a vehicle parked in the middle of a gravel road near US Highway 87 east of Moore. The caller said there was a pile of clothing next to the vehicle, but did not see any people in the vicinity.
When deputies arrived, they noted that the vehicle was running and saw the clothing, along with a set footprints leading from the vehicle into a field.
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Deputies activated a K-9 team and utilized a drone, and worked with Central Montana Search & Rescue to try to find the person.
The followed the footprints for more than two miles and found the body of naked man, later identified as Burshia.
Initial findings of an autopsy at the Montana State Crime Lab in Billings found signs of hypothermia. Alcohol and/or drugs may have been a factor in the man's death, according to the lab.
The Sheriff's Office thanked all agencies that assisted in the search and investigation, including the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office.
From the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
What is hypothermia?
- Hypothermia can happen when a person is exposed to very cold temperature for a long period of time. When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it's produced. Lengthy exposures will eventually use up your body's stored energy, which leads to lower body temperature.
- Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia especially dangerous, because a person may not know that it's happening and won't be able to do anything about it.
- While hypothermia is most likely at very cold temperatures, it can occur even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water.
Risk factors
Victims of hypothermia are often:
- Older adults with inadequate food, clothing, or heating
- Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms
- People who remain outdoors for long periods—people experiencing homelessness, hikers, hunters, etc.
- People who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
What to look out for
The following are warnings signs of hypothermia:
Adults
- Shivering
- Exhaustion or feeling very tired
- Confusion
- Fumbling hands
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
Babies
- Bright red, cold skin
- Very low energy
