The somber news was announced on January 5th by Sheriff Jesse Slaughter of Cascade County, revealing that Tammy Goff’s body had been discovered in the Missouri River.
While additional details are still pending, Sheriff Slaughter confirmed the identification of the body as that of Ms. Goff.
An ongoing investigation is in progress to establish the cause of her passing and offer closure to her family and loved ones. Our thoughts are with Ms. Goff’s family during this challenging period.
Subsequently, the coroner determined that the victim drowned, and the exact cause of the death remains unknown. According to the officials’ statement, “In an incident dating back over three years, Tammy Goff’s body was recognized after it was discovered in a pickup truck retrieved from the Missouri River in Great Falls last month.”” Additionally, they mentioned, “The cause of Goff’s demise was drowning. The specifics surrounding her death remain elusive.””
The pursuit for Desiree Goff’s disappearance in July 2018 homed in on the river, with hopes that this might provide some insight into prior unsolved cases.
Following a four-day exploration, Adventures With Purpose pinpointed Goff’s vehicle submerged in the river near Wilson Butte Road, several miles south of Great Falls.
Regrettably, her remains were discovered shortly thereafter. This remarkable breakthrough occurred six days before what would have been her 60th birthday and 32 hours after her dog was found heading along the river.
The resolution of the previous eight cold cases would not have been attainable without the discovery of Goff. Responding to the call for help, authorities wasted no time in seeking assistance in their search for Goff, prompting a group called Adventures with Purpose to step forward.
Following a dedicated week-long endeavor, armed with improved resources, the organization located the long-missing vehicle.
Though a body was found at the location, its identity as Goff’s was not immediately confirmed; nevertheless, authorities persisted in their diligent efforts to find closure.
In September 2018, searchers Gene and Sandy Ralston of Kuna, Idaho, further contributed by uncovering a vehicle in the river, which ultimately proved unrelated to Goff.
The Ralstons, a family of seasoned search and rescue adventurers, operate discreetly until summoned to resolve a case.
Since 1983, their tracking expertise has proven instrumental in aiding law enforcement to locate drowning victims who had been unexpectedly lost in the ocean or river, typically after all other searches had proved fruitless.
Over the past two years, their latest initiative—a specialized tracking canine named Purpose—has made significant strides in solving eight long-standing missing person cases.
Their contribution to law enforcement’s endeavors is particularly evident in the case of Tommy Goff, who vanished without a trace before his elderly spouse’s eyes.
Despite official investigations tapering off, Bob Goff tirelessly continued the search for his late partner with support from the Ralstons and Purpose, demonstrating unwavering commitment to achieving justice for victims like Tom and inspiring hope for their affected families.
Tammy’s Spouse’s Reflection after the Discovery of Her Body
Tammy’s partner expressed his sentiments publicly upon learning of the authorities’ recovery of his wife after an extensive search. He conveyed the following message from his family and himself.
Bob, Tammy’s partner, shared the following message on behalf of himself and another family member: “We ultimately located Tammy. After nearly three years of scouring the river, exploring county roads, and searching every corner, Tammy was precisely where her faithful companion, Sadie, our rescue German Shepherd, had been endeavoring to indicate.”
He further expressed, “There is an overwhelming sense of relief and profound sorrow, knowing that Tammy is gone forever. Our family can now, at the least, lay her to rest and commence the healing process. We wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the local law enforcement, the local media for their assistance in disseminating the information, the numerous volunteers who dedicated their time and efforts, and the landowners who granted access to our search parties. We live in an incredibly caring community. Thank you all very much”.
