Search and rescue finds body of Nampa man Friday

The body of a 30-year-old Nampa man was found in the Cat's Creek summit area Friday, following a search by Elmore County deputies and search and rescue personnel.

Nicholas Allen Gould, 30, had been reported missing on Monday, Oct. 27, from his Nampa home. On Tuesday, an attempt to locate bulletin was sent to law enforcement agencies throughout the region. The ATL indicated he had been suffering from mental problems and may not have been taking his medication.

On Thursday, the Elmore County Sheriff's Office was notified that a vehicle had been seen parked on the roadside at milepost 120 on Highway 20 for two days.

When deputies responded they found a the vehicle, which matched the ATL information. A passenger-side window had been broken, with most of the glass inside the vehicle, and blood was found in and near the vehicle. Authorities began a search of the area but the search had to be called off that night due to darkness. The next morning, deputies and search and rescue personnel accompanied by special rescue dogs, resumed the search and Gould's body was found about a quarter of a mile away from his vehicle at the bottom of a cliff.

According to Det. Clint Andrus of the Elmore County Sheriff's Office, it appeared Gould had tried to climb the steep hillside/cliff in the area, and had slipped and fallen. It is not known when he died of his injuries. Cuts on his hands indicated he may have been the person who broke the window on his vehicle.

No foul play is suspected.