Searchers for missing man find a body

FARGO — Authorities searching for a missing Fargo man found a body Monday, but the body has not yet been identified.

The search was for Colter Dallman, 27, of Fargo, who has been missing since early January, .

A search dog led authorities to the body in a field southwest of Cass County Road 14 and Interstate 29 and just north of Memory Fireworks, which was being used as a staging area for the search, said Sgt. Tara Morris, spokeswoman for the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

The body was found at about 2 p.m. Morris said. Search efforts for Dallman were discontinued until a positive ID could be made, she said.

Earlier in the day, authorities deployed snowmobiles, ATVs and dogs as they resumed the search for Dallman. Twenty-five to 30 members of law enforcement agencies from Cass and Clay counties and the North Dakota Highway Patrol began the ground search at around 10:30 a.m. near Exit 56 on Interstate 29 east of Horace.

Authorities said Dallman’s cellphone last made contact with a cell tower southeast of Horace on Jan. 9. His car was found with the keys in it on the southbound off-ramp at Exit 56.

Fargo police, using a Highway Patrol airplane, conducted an aerial search of that area last Thursday but didn’t find anything significant. Officials postponed the ground search until Monday because of extreme cold last week.

The ground search covered areas along County Road 14 and along the Wild Rice River one mile north and south of the road. Valley Water Rescue brought a search dog to aid in the effort, and a second canine also was used.

Lt. Joel Vettel said Fargo police probably wouldn’t confirm the identity of the body found until this morning. Police have said there was no clear indication of foul play.

Dallman’s mother, Carolyn Woodruff of Beulah, previously told The Forum that from the looks of his residence it appeared he wasn’t traveling, as he didn’t take any suitcases or his medication and left credit cards and money on his dresser.

She said he has a history of depression and had times in the past where he fought suicidal thoughts, but said there was no suicide note “or anything to make that the only possibility.”

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