Evergreen homicide victim identified

Authorities have identified the victim of an alleged homicide at the Old Steel Bridge in Evergreen as 34-year-old Anthony Andrew Walthers, a transient from the Kalispell area.

Walthers went over the bridge and into the Flathead River on Wednesday night. According to a news release from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and search and rescue members are still searching the river for Walthers’ body.

The Sheriff’s Office has identified Cecil Thomas Rice, 26, and Heather Joy Meeker, 25, as two suspects who allegedly fled the scene after Walthers went into the river. Authorities have interviewed a third male who was present on the bridge at the time of the incident and are not considering him a suspect at this time.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.