Missing hunter carried drugs, cash

Terry Carver, the hunter who died near the base of Three Fingered Jack three weeks ago, died of hypothermia, according to a state medical examiner in Portland.

Carver's body was recovered November 1. He was reported missing October 26 when he failed to meet his hunting partner after the two split up the previous afternoon.

Questions still surround Carver's death. Why did Carver, who used to be a logger and knew how to survive in the woods, according to relatives, make no attempt to save himself? Why did he wander in circles over a small area of several hundred yards instead of heading downstream toward civilization? Why was Carver carrying a large amount of cash and methamphetamine?

According to Lt. Greg Partin of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Carver was carrying more than 40 grams of meth, about one and one-half ounces, when he died. Others reported the quantity to be about the size of a baseball.

That amount of drugs would be worth several thousand dollars, wholesale, according to police.

However, the medical examiner's report showed negligible amounts of methamphetamine and alcohol in Carver's system, according to Lt. Partin.

Carver did show signs of having a badly sprained ankle, according to Dr. Karen Gunson of the State Medical Examiner's office in Portland.

There were also signs that Carver's left foot and hands had begun to freeze before he died.

But Dr. Gunson said that they had no way of pinning down the exact time or even date of death.

Lt. Partin said the investigation into Carver's death did turn up that the victim had been dealing significant amounts of methamphetamine for more than a year. Further investigation into narcotics trafficking is being conducted by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Partin said the Jefferson County District Attorney and sheriff's office planned to review the entire case on Tuesday, November 19.

"There are some discrepancies in information from some people involved in this case. We will review it to see if there is a possibility of criminal charges," Partin said.