A number of volunteers gathered this morning at the Naples General Store to continue the search for 20 year old James Sanborn, Bonners Ferry, who went missing January 1 after walking away from a friend’s house on Sandy Ridge Road near Naples. The search ended at 1:00 p.m. with the discovery of his body near Deep Creek, well away from the area he was initially assumed to have gone.

Sanborn was reported missing on Friday, January 2, and a full scale search was launched by Sheriff Greg Sprungl, with deputies, Boundary Search and Dive Rescue, a U.S. Border Patrol K9 unit and the sheriff's posse, which included a light aircraft with heat-seeking capability. A crew from Fairchild Air Force Base was preparing to assist, but weather conditions turned foul and the flight was cancelled.

Sprungl thanked all the volunteers who came out today for their assistance.

According to the Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, it was Sanborn’s father, John Sanborn, and his two sons who made the discovery after remembering a Deep Creek swimming spot he used to favor.

It appears Sanborn crossed the creek in the early morning hours of New Years Day and succumbed to hypothermia. Foul play is not suspected.

Our condolences go out to James Sanborn's family and friends, and our thanks to all who turned out today to help in finding him.