06/24/2025
On 06/22/2025, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a body discovered in the Swift Reservoir, 15 miles east of Cougar, Washington. Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, along with the Skamania County Coroner, accessed the location by boat, recovered the remains and conducted their investigation.
The decedent has been identified as 72-year-old David Brinkmeyer who went missing last November while hunting near the Muddy River. On November 13, 2024, Brinkmeyer attempted to cross the Muddy River in an innertube affixed by a rope system to access his hunting camp. The tube overturned and Brinkmeyer was swept away in the fast-moving water. After an extensive search coordinated by the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, utilizing air assets, ground searchers, and ropes teams, Brinkmeyer was not located, and the search was terminated. Brinkmeyer’s recovery was approximately 12.5 miles away from the reported point last seen.