Carl Levitian
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Officials: Mountain Man death accidental
By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Thursday, May 28, 2009 2:36 AM CDT
Cache County Sheriff officials say they’ve completed a four-day investigation into the stabbing death of a Wyoming man who died just after midnight Sunday at the Old Ephraim’s Mountain Man Rendezvous in Blacksmith Fork Canyon east of Hyrum.
Sheriff Lt. and spokesperson Matt Bilodeau says Tim Andrus, 33, of La Barge, Wyo., died accidentally when his own knife pierced his chest while he was wrestling with an acquaintance at the Memorial day weekend gathering.
“We do not feel it (the wrestling) was aggressive in nature,” said Bilodeau. “Nor do we feel it was any part of a fight or conflict.”
He added, “Tim was wrestling with an acquaintance when (his) own knife created the wound in the soft tissue of his chest.”
Reports show the 6- to 7-inch homemade knife entered Andrus’ body at a 45 degree angle, cutting approximately 2.25 inches deep and penetrating his heart. Andrus was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bilodeau said the medical exam corroborated the report of eye witnesses that the injury was the result of an accident.
“The family was relieved to know that no one had intentionally hurt him,” added Bilodeau.
Investigators also discovered Andrus had a defective over-the-shoulder sheath for the knife and that earlier in the day he was having difficulty securing the knife.
Witnesses confirmed the victim had been struggling with the broken sheath throughout the day.
Bilodeau stressed that the incident did not take place during an official rendezvous activity and that all Mountain Man events had been completed by earlier Saturday evening.
The rendezvous takes place each year in the Left Hand Fork area of the canyon where participants take part in a celebration and reenactment of the 1820s fur trading era. Participants dress in period costume and learn primitive archery, Dutch oven cooking, hatchet and black powder shooting skills.
The event continued as scheduled after the incident.
Funeral services are scheduled for today in Logan. Andrus grew up in Cache Valley and attended high school at Sky View in Smithfield before moving to Wyoming, where he attended Big Piney High.
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E-mail:
[email protected]]
I ran across this on the internet news, and thought it very interesting. Not so much for the fact that he was nailed by his own knife, but the size of the fatal wound. It only went in 2 and 1/4 inches, at an angle to boot, but still was fatal. Thats abut the size of a Gerber LST, Spyderco Lady Bug, sak, and some other rather small knives.
Looks like it don't take much blade, do it?
Officials: Mountain Man death accidental
By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Thursday, May 28, 2009 2:36 AM CDT
Cache County Sheriff officials say they’ve completed a four-day investigation into the stabbing death of a Wyoming man who died just after midnight Sunday at the Old Ephraim’s Mountain Man Rendezvous in Blacksmith Fork Canyon east of Hyrum.
Sheriff Lt. and spokesperson Matt Bilodeau says Tim Andrus, 33, of La Barge, Wyo., died accidentally when his own knife pierced his chest while he was wrestling with an acquaintance at the Memorial day weekend gathering.
“We do not feel it (the wrestling) was aggressive in nature,” said Bilodeau. “Nor do we feel it was any part of a fight or conflict.”
He added, “Tim was wrestling with an acquaintance when (his) own knife created the wound in the soft tissue of his chest.”
Reports show the 6- to 7-inch homemade knife entered Andrus’ body at a 45 degree angle, cutting approximately 2.25 inches deep and penetrating his heart. Andrus was pronounced dead at the scene.
Bilodeau said the medical exam corroborated the report of eye witnesses that the injury was the result of an accident.
“The family was relieved to know that no one had intentionally hurt him,” added Bilodeau.
Investigators also discovered Andrus had a defective over-the-shoulder sheath for the knife and that earlier in the day he was having difficulty securing the knife.
Witnesses confirmed the victim had been struggling with the broken sheath throughout the day.
Bilodeau stressed that the incident did not take place during an official rendezvous activity and that all Mountain Man events had been completed by earlier Saturday evening.
The rendezvous takes place each year in the Left Hand Fork area of the canyon where participants take part in a celebration and reenactment of the 1820s fur trading era. Participants dress in period costume and learn primitive archery, Dutch oven cooking, hatchet and black powder shooting skills.
The event continued as scheduled after the incident.
Funeral services are scheduled for today in Logan. Andrus grew up in Cache Valley and attended high school at Sky View in Smithfield before moving to Wyoming, where he attended Big Piney High.
———
E-mail:
[email protected]]
I ran across this on the internet news, and thought it very interesting. Not so much for the fact that he was nailed by his own knife, but the size of the fatal wound. It only went in 2 and 1/4 inches, at an angle to boot, but still was fatal. Thats abut the size of a Gerber LST, Spyderco Lady Bug, sak, and some other rather small knives.
Looks like it don't take much blade, do it?
