Officials: Body of missing Fort Belknap man found

MISSOULA — The body of a missing Fort Belknap man was recovered from the Milk River east of Havre last week, according to officials. Hill County Undersheriff Stan Martin confirmed the body belonged to Michael Lonewolf, who had been missing from the area for several months. He said the autopsy found no signs of foul play.

Lonewolf, 53, was last seen at the Albertsons in Harlem on July 9. His disappearance exemplified the complicated and frustrating reality of inter-agency criminal jurisdiction shared among state, federal and tribal entities. The Fort Belknap Tribal Police led the investigation into Lonewolf's disappearance.



The tribal agency, however, is underfunded and overloaded with work. Sometimes, just two officers are responsible for patrolling the 652,000-acre reservation. Surrounding counties can provide support, but their involvement hinges on formal working agreements, which aren't always in place.

The high rate of missing Indigenous people is a national crisis, and experts say Montana is an epicenter. While Native Americans account for about 6.7% of Montana's population, they account for, on average, 26% of the state's active missing persons reports.

Benjamin Speakthunder, Lonewolf's uncle, conducted countless searches for his nephew on the reservation. He described Lonewolf as "a social guy" who had lots of friends and loved to travel. Lonewolf worked in construction in his younger years and went on to work at various oil fields in the region.

He called his mother often and is survived by two daughters and one son. Speakthunder said while Lonewolf's death is not the outcome his family hoped for, he finds solace knowing his nephew lived a good life. "What this does is bring closure," he said.

"God bless those folks out there who are still waiting, still looking for their missing loved ones. (Lonewolf) is at peace now. That in itself is reassuring.

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