Missing snowmobiler, 87, found dead

ELLENSBURG — Kittitas County sheriff’s deputies say the body of a missing 87-year-old snowmobiler has been found by a relative.

Sheriff’s Commander Robert Gubser says Dale Sasseen, of Cashmere, was found dead Saturday about 2.4 miles from where he was last seen. He was found by a relative, Matt Coe, about noon.

Gubser said in a news release that it appears Sasseen’s snowmobile became stuck on Wednesday in the Cooke Canyon area about 10 miles northeast of Ellensburg. He says Sasseen was unable to free it, then tried unsuccessfully to build a fire before dying of exposure. Dozens of people took part in a search, but it was hampered by poor weather.

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