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Bear Eats Convicted Murderer, Later Euthanized

Bear Eats Convicted Murderer, Later Euthanized

Some of the more bizarre stories that come our way generally involve surviving inside a hollow log, or beating a cougar senseless with a skillet -- you know, good ole', All-American fun. Rarely do they involve convicted murderers.

Just days after being reported missing, the partially eaten remains of 53-year-old Rory Nelson Wagner were discovered by hunters on a remote logging road near Kamloops, B.C.

According to The Canadian Press, Wagner was convicted of second-degree murder in 1994 after he and two others killed a Langley, B.C., man in 1993, believing the victim had sexually assaulted a family member.


Though the victim had been charged with sexual assault, he was acquitted shortly before his death. Wagner had been on parole living in Kamloops for 10 years before his death.

Authorities say a black bear pulled Wagner's body from through an open window in his Volkswagen Jetta, ate part of it and buried the rest. According to CNN, Wagner was already dead by the time the bear had dragged him out of his car, adding that police discovered drug paraphernalia and a bottle of alcohol in the car. Authorities do not believe, however, that Wagner's death was suicide, and toxicology reports are still pending.

Though authorities believe the bear was not responsible for Nelson's death, a bear matching the description -- a cinnamon-colored bear seen guarding the stash of human remains -- was trapped and later euthanized due to public safety. A necropsy will be performed on the bear to determine for sure whether it was the bear that ate Wagner's remains.


Check out the video from CNN.




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