David Kelsey

A missing Cody man was found deceased on Tuesday, following days of searching by authorities, family and community members. 

The body of David Kelsey, 50, was found in Beck Lake and “all signs currently point to accidental drowning,” Park County Coroner Cody Gortmaker said Wednesday. While an investigation remains ongoing, there have been no indications of foul play, nor is it suspected, Gortmaker said.

Kelsey had been missing for over a week, having walked away from his home sometime between 11 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 2 a.m. on Jan. 24.

“While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, it is our hope that this brings some measure of closure to David’s family and loved ones,” Cody police said in a Tuesday statement on Facebook.

Police considered Kelsey to be endangered, as the temperatures on the night of Jan. 23 were below zero and the Cody resident had both physical and mental health issues. 

In the wake of Kelsey’s disappearance, police put out multiple calls for public help on Facebook and issued a Park County-wide alert while both authorities and volunteers spent hours combing the Cody area, including going door-to-door in neighborhoods near Kelsey’s home.

On Tuesday morning, a Cody police officer spotted an object in Beck Lake, and a drone operator helped confirm it was Kelsey’s body. Search and rescue personnel then recovered his remains.

In a Tuesday Facebook post, the Cody Police Department thanked the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Park County Search and Rescue, and the many volunteers with the nonprofit organization Find911 who “dedicated countless hours assisting in the search for David.”

“Your efforts and commitment were invaluable,” police wrote, also thanking the community at large for their support, vigilance and compassion during the search.

The department asked that the Kelsey family’s privacy be respected.