Woman's body found on Milk River

Fort Belknap Indian Community officials reported finding a body Monday on the Milk River just within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

Blaine County Undersheriff Chris Adair said this morning the body was identified as Thomasine Walker of Fort Belknap, 33. 

Fort Belknap law enforcement received a call Monday at 4:27 p.m. about a person who was in the Milk River, a public service announcement from the Fort Belknap Agency said.

Officers responded to the call and found Walker lying on the ice and not moving near a dam near the Fort Belknap Agency. 

Multiple agencies responded to assist in recovering the body, including Fort Belknap Fish and Game, Fort Belknap Volunteer Fire Department, Harlem Volunteer Fire Department, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Fort Belknap Indian Community public service announcement said Walker’s body has been transported to Billings to the Montana State Crime Lab to determine cause of death.

The incident is being investigated by the Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services Criminal Investigation Unit and the FBI.

Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Service reminded everyone that the area where the body was found is taped off to keep the scene secure while the incident is being investigated and the investigators would like the public’s cooperation by staying away from the scene.

The release added that Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Service would like to remind the public that the ice on the river has become unstable because of rising temperatures in the past week. For the safety of the public, people should stay off of the ice.