Did Dan Jenkins die in “Yellowstone”?

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Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office

Case No: 2023-07-05-DJ

Type of Incident: Death Investigation

Reporting Officer: Deputy Sheriff John Ranger

Date of Incident: July 3, 2023

Victim Information:

Name: Dan Jenkins Age: Mid-50s Address: 24300 Paradise Valley Road, Bozeman, MT 59718

Details of the Incident:

On the 3rd of July, 2023, at approximately 0600 hours, I received a call from Yellowstone Ranch's foreman, Mr. Rip Wheeler, reporting a possible suicide on the property. Upon arrival at the location, I observed the deceased, Mr. Dan Jenkins, hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck. Mr. Wheeler stated that he discovered the body early in the morning during his regular rounds of the property.

The scene was secured, and Coroner Dr. Richards was called to the location. The body was photographed and examined on site. No immediate signs of struggle or defensive wounds were observed. However, Dr. Richards noted bruising around the wrists and ankles, which seemed inconsistent with suicide. These injuries may suggest that Mr. Jenkins was restrained prior to his death. Further, Dr. Richards did not find any skin abrasions or tissue damage around Mr. Jenkins's hands, which would typically be present in cases of suicide by hanging due to the individual's instinctive struggle against the noose.

Evidence was collected from the scene, including the rope used for the hanging, soil samples from under the tree, and samples of the decedent's clothing. All items will be sent to the crime lab for further analysis. The body of Mr. Jenkins was transported to the county morgue for autopsy.

Potential Suspects:

During the preliminary investigation, it was noted that Mr. Jenkins had several ongoing disputes with local landowners, including John Dutton, owner of the Yellowstone Ranch. Although there is no direct evidence linking Mr. Dutton or any other individuals to this incident, these disputes will be examined as part of the investigation.

Next Steps:

An autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. Forensic results on the collected evidence are pending. Detectives will conduct interviews with associates of Mr. Jenkins and local landowners to gather more information. Any potential security camera footage in the vicinity of the incident will be reviewed.

This case is currently classified as an "Unexplained Death" and will be investigated further. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.