An Idaho Falls woman was found dead near Heise in 1966. Here’s what the investigation revealed.
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IDAHO FALLS — A “coroner’s inquest” ruled how an Idaho Falls woman died near Heise in 1966.
The story of Mrs. C.L. (Gwen) Englund, 49, was featured in our weekly Looking Back column, which looks back on what life was like during different periods in east Idaho history.
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Who was Gwen Englund?
Englund was born in Lewisville. When she was “a small child,” her family moved to Idaho Falls, where she grew up and graduated from Idaho Falls High School. She married C. Leone Englund of Rexburg in 1939.
She was described as an “ardent fisherman” and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Mrs. Englund was quite well-known in this area, having many relatives and friends,” The Rigby Star wrote on Sept. 29, 1966.
Englund’s body discovered
Englund’s body was found on Sept. 24, 1966, around 5:30 p.m. Her body was found by her camper five miles east of Heise, and the Bonneville County sheriff said a .22 caliber rifle was found nearby.
She was shot in the chest. Law enforcement were trying to determine whether someone shot her or if it was self-inflicted wound.
The Rigby Star originally reported that fisherman Jess V. Schow found the body. But Schow later testified that two Salt Lake City men, Brigham Olsen and Guy Briggs, had found the body, and then he went to investigate.
Investigation leads to answers
An inquest was held on Nov. 30, 1966, but nothing about it was reported until Dec. 5, 1966. At that time, it became known that Bonneville County Coroner Hazel McGaffey ruled Englund’s death an accident.
A handful of people testified about their part in the investigation of Englund’s death, including Deputy Sheriff James Thomas, Sheriff Lester G. Hopkins, and state patrolmen Sgt. Richard Foote and Ronald Ropp.
“The officers said the FBI reports indicate the muzzle was about an inch from her outer garments when the rifle was fired,” the Idaho Falls Post Register wrote. “They said the weapon was new, that it had not been properly assembled, but that it had been assembled well enough to fire.”
Dr. D.C. Stoddard, her attending physician, said Englund “had never indicated suicidal tendencies.” Other testimonies also explained that it wasn’t unusual for Englund to go fishing alone. Englund’s husband “declined to testify.”
Prosecuting attorney Jack G. Voshell handled the questioning, and Mrs. McGaffey presided. John W. Morgan, John Rogers, Mrs. Walter Kay, Harold Davis, Mrs. Lester Lux, Richard McColley, and Ester Anderson served on the jury.
Funeral services for Englund were held at the Wood Chapel of the Pines, and interment was held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Idaho Falls.