Robert James Childress, BHS 1969
Great Fall Tribune, Great Falls, Montana, Friday, May 22, 1987
Principal who resigned found dead at his home
THOMPSON FALLS – The principal of the Thompson Falls Elementary School was found dead at his home earlier this week, and authorities say he may have died accidentally after deciding not to go through with a suicide attempt.
Bob Childress, in his 30s, was found dead on the floor of his garage Monday morning by Superintendent of Schools Gene Ostwald after Childress failed to report to work, according to Sanders County Coroner Mark Denke.
Denke said the garage door was closed and a key was found in the ignition of Childress pickup, but the engine was not running, apparently having run out of gas. Results of an autopsy performed this week are not complete, and the exact cause of death has not been determined, he said.
Denke said he suspected Childress died either from carbon monoxide poisoning or possibly from injuries received in a fall inside the garage. Childress apparently got out of the cab of his pickup, fell and hit his head on a faucet fixture, got up again, and then fell backwards onto the concrete floor, the coroner said.
Denke said it’s possible that Childress intended to commit suicide, but changed his mind as he was being overcome by carbon monoxide and was trying to get out of the truck when he fell. Childress had been principal at the school for three years, and last week submitted his resignation.
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