“Damien P. Kucich Identified as Deceased Person Found in Clearwater River, Investigation Continues”

The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office has identified the body found in the Clearwater River as Damien P. Kucich, a 38-year-old man from South Lake Tahoe, CA. An autopsy revealed that he died from drowning. Two individuals, Ryan Nicholas and Rebekah Ramos, have been interviewed and booked on grand theft charges, but there is currently no evidence linking them to Kucich’s death. Kucich was last seen near Deano’s Gas Station in Orofino wearing khaki shorts and lime green shoes. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Wendy King. Clearwater Tribune reported

Deputies from the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office were called to the Clearwater River, close to Gibbs Eddy off Highway 12, on May 28th, where a deceased individual was discovered. The identity of the person was initially unknown, prompting a public appeal for assistance in identification. However, the sheriff’s office announced on August 3rd that the deceased man has been identified as Damien P. Kucich, a 38-year-old resident of South Lake Tahoe, CA.

An autopsy determined that Kucich’s cause of death was drowning. Over the past two months, detectives have conducted interviews with multiple individuals in relation to this case. As a result, the last known persons to be in the company of Kucich before his demise have been identified as Ryan Nicholas, aged 29, from Ahsahka, and Rebekah Ramos, aged 33, from Truckee, CA. These individuals have been interviewed by detectives and subsequently incarcerated in the Nez Perce County Jail on charges of grand theft. However, the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office has clarified that there is currently no evidence to suggest that Nicholas or Ramos are responsible for Kucich’s death.

It is believed that Kucich disembarked from a white 2014 Lexus SUV, registered under Ramos’s name, near Deano’s Gas Station on Highway 12 in Orofino sometime after midnight on May 27th. He was last seen wearing khaki shorts and lime green shoes in the vicinity of Deano’s, close to the Clearwater River bank.

Anyone who possesses information regarding the circumstances surrounding Kucich’s death is urged to contact Detective Wendy King at 208-799-2121, extension 1..