Watford City, ND — A death investigation that has remained unresolved for over a decade is being revisited by the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, as new attention is brought to the 2013 death of Duncan Templer, a 51-year-old man from Hillsboro.

Templer’s body was found in the Badlands of North Dakota two months after he was reported missing, and his death was originally ruled as undetermined. In 2013, he had told family members that he intended to take his own life in the Badlands, which led to an initial assumption that it may have been a suicide. His semi-truck was located on a scenic overlook 22 miles south of Watford City, and after a week-long search in the rugged terrain, investigators called off the search when his body was not located.

Two months later, a hunter and his son discovered Templer’s remains in the area. At the time, authorities found no signs of foul play, and the cause of death was deemed undetermined by the medical examiner.

Despite the conclusion, Templer’s daughter, who has long believed her father’s death was not a suicide but rather a homicide, has been pushing for a re-investigation into the case. Her persistence has prompted the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office to reopen the investigation. Lieutenant Edward Martinez, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, confirmed that a new team of investigators is now reviewing the original case and associated records.

“This is an early stage of gathering documents from the original investigation,” said Lt. Martinez. “We are taking a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding Mr. Templer’s death and will follow any leads as we move forward.”

While the case has not yet been reclassified as a homicide, Lt. Martinez emphasized that investigators are committed to a thorough re-examination, leaving open the possibility of new conclusions. Templer’s daughter, who has been vocal in her doubts about the initial findings, expressed hope that this new investigation could shed light on her father’s death.

KX News will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as the investigation unfolds.