They confirm the discovery of the remains of a mother who disappeared seven months ago in Idaho
The identification was made through dental records, ending a search that lasted more than seven months
Authorities confirmed the discovery of the remains of Chantal Williams, a 24-year-old mother who had disappeared in December 2025 in Shoshone County, Idaho.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the skeletal remains found on July 5 in the St. Joe River correspond to Williams, an identification made by comparing dental records.
Disappeared during an alleged mental health crisis
Williams, a resident of Deer Park, Washington, was last seen on December 12, 2025 while walking in the Marble Creek area of Shoshone County.
According to authorities, he was wearing only a blanket at the time and there was a possibility that he was experiencing a mental health crisis.
After his disappearance, an extensive search operation was deployed that included diving teams, canine units and drones.
However, on December 18, the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office announced the suspension of work, indicating that all available resources had been exhausted.
A kayaker found the remains
The remains were discovered by a kayaker in a shallow lagoon on the St. Joe River.
According to local media, the man initially believed that they were bones of an animal, but upon approaching he verified that they were human remains and notified the authorities.
Subsequent forensic examination confirmed Williams' identity.
In a statement released after the identification, the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office expressed its condolences to the family.
“While this is not the result anyone expected, we are grateful to have been able to provide answers and offer a degree of closure to their loved ones,” the institution said.
Authorities also thanked the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office, the Shoshone County Coroner's Office, search and rescue teams and other agencies that participated in the investigation for their collaboration.
According to a fundraising campaign promoted by her brother and cited by American media, Williams was a single mother of two children.
That post also indicated that her vehicle had been located on St. Joe River Road shortly after her disappearance.
The investigation continues
Although the identification of the remains made it possible to clarify Williams' whereabouts, authorities did not report the causes of his death or offer details about a possible criminal investigation.
The case remains under the jurisdiction of local authorities.