Remains identified as missing woman

The Sanders County Coroner's Office has worked with state agencies to identify the human remains found by a hunter last fall. Coroner Patrick Barber said a hunter found the remains in an area between Quinn's Hot Springs Resort and St. Regis. The remains have been identified as Melissa Arnold, who went missing from Missoula in February 2018.

Arnold was 37 years old when she went missing, and a Missoula Police Department press release from 2018 stated that Arnold was homeless and usually had semi-regular contact with her father, who provided for some of her needs. Arnold's father had not heard from her in a couple of weeks before she was reported missing, the press release stated. In 2022, some of Arnold's belongings were found in Sanders County, prompting her family to organize a search party.

The coroner's office, members of the Sanders County Sheriff's Office and a U.S. Forest Service employee searched the area where the remains were initially found. The area was searched over two days. The remains were gathered, photographed and GPS locations logged as the county officials preserved the scene. From there, Barber said the remains were sent to the Montana State Crime Lab, an independent DNA lab, as well as the University of Montana Forensic Anthropology Lab. The UM lab was able to estimate the age, sex and exposure time of the remains, while the private lab was able to provide a DNA profile for the remains. The DNA matched DNA gathered by authorities investigating Arnold's disappearance.

"This was really important to get the family some closure," Barber stated.

It took almost six months for the remains to be identified through the DNA records. Barber said that Arnold's remains will be released to her family. Barber said there is no ongoing threat to the community. Barber stated that the manner of death is still pending.

Whitney Bennett, Public Information Officer for the Missoula Police Department, stated the case is not active with their department and that no new evidence has been obtained in the case.

With the growing population in Sanders County, Barber said that the number of deaths and investigations were up in 2022. Last year, the county coroner's office did more than 100 investigations, compared with 80 in 2021. In 2022, Barber used DNA to positively identify four other people. He said DNA identification is needed, for example, in case of a death due to a fire.

Barber recently became one of five county coroners in Montana registered with the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators. "It brings a level of credibility, expertise and professionalism to the position," he noted. For the designation, Barber had to study and be tested on various topics including death scene investigation, cultures and customers, recognizing physiological effects of death and pharmaceuticals. He said he also has put more of an emphasis on training for his entire staff. They also have set a policy that they will not make a determination of suicide on a death for 48 hours so that the scene and evidence can be properly handled. He said they are professional and thorough and treat every investigation as though it may end up in court one day.

The Sanders County Commissioners appointed Barber to the office of coroner when it was split from the sheriff's role in 2021. Barber was re-elected to the position last November. He said he likes the challenges of his job. "I also like being able to give people answers and to help them."