10/29/2018
October 28, 1976 - Ririe and Rexburg, Idaho
The body of Trina Danita Kelsey, 16, is found 3 miles north of Ririe by a farmer on a Sunday. Initially, foul play is suspected. Trina was a junior at Madison High School who was last seen the previous Thursday night on her way to a party in St. Anthony. She never made it.
Eventually, Trina's death was ruled a drowning and her case is not considered an open investigation by Jefferson or Madison County Sheriff. Should it be?
Trina was found with her clothing intact except for a pair of jeans. Water in the canal did not go above her head. Her jacket was caught on driftwood in a nearby canal. Her shoes were off. Her jeans were hooked on barbed wire.
Police theorized Trina fell headfirst into the canal and died. They believe another person was with her when she died, who did not come forward.
Family was not content with her death labeled as a drowning.
They still wonder to this day what really happened.
A hand drawn map I have is a feeder canal coming off the south Fork. Her body was found by Merlin Hill, a local farmer who went that way to see why the cows were mooing.
Contact Jefferson County Idaho Sheriff's Office or the Idaho Cold Case Tip Line if it's time to finally come forward. (844) TIP-4040