BCSO: Remains identified as missing man

SANDPOINT — Human remains found in a wooded, undeveloped area in late October have been identified as belong to a Sandpoint man reported missing in December 1995.

The remains were identified as positively belonging to Daniel Glennon, who was 32 years old at the time of his disappearance.

After the remains were discovered by a logging crew in the area, an excavation of the area of Bonner County Sheriff's Office detectives, three members of the Bonner County Coroner's Office and four students from the University of Montana Forensic Anthropology Department.

The excavation, which involved digging with hand tools, sifting debris, and metal detecting, led to the discovery of additional human remains, fragments of clothing, and a .22 caliber revolver. The items were located under up to four inches of dirt and debris and scattered in an area approximately 40 feet by 40 feet, BCSO officials said in a press release.

Based on their condition, BCSO detectives suspected the remains were those of Daniel Glennon based on an initial recovery of remains and clothing. That visual examination indicated the remains and clothing were likely decades old.

Detectives and Coroner Rob Beers were able to obtain dental records for Glennon from his childhood dental office in Califon, New Jersey. These dental records and X-rays of the skull were examined by forensic odontology consultant Lee Coppess of Hayden, Idaho. On Jan. 13, Dr. Coppess reported the remains matched dental records for Glennon, with no discrepancies.

Glennon's family has been notified of the positive identification.

Preliminary investigation indicated the manner of death to be suicide. However, the remains are being forensically examined at the University of Montana.

At the time of his disappearance, Glennon lived alone on Wrenco Loop Road and was last seen in Sandpoint in December 1995. He was reported missing by his family in May 1996 after not hearing from him for some time, BCSO officials said.

Glennon was known by neighbors to enjoy hiking the area, and he also told his family he might move out-of-state for different employment.

Over the years, multiple searches were conducted in the area, including by a diver searching a nearby beaver pond, BCSO officials said. No leads were ever developed to explain Glennon’s disappearance, and the case has remained open ever since, they said.

BCSO and Coroner's Office officials said thanked all involved in helping determine what happened to Glennon. That included the reporting citizen, the UM Forensic Anthropology Department, his neighbors on Wrenco Loop Road, and his family as well as Dr. Coppess, and retired BCSO Det. Howard Burke for the their assistance with this case.