By Vince Lovato
Pathfinder Editor
SEELEY LAKE -- While citizens here were concerned that a serial dog abuser might be living amongst them, a sheriff’s incident report might serve to quell the community’s dread.
As reported in the Pathfinder (Oct. 13 issue), a 3-year-old Rottweiler named Bam Bam might have been captured, tortured and killed in late September.
Bam Bam’s incident followed just week after another dog, Lucky, was found hanging from a noose around her snout but was discovered before she died.
The incident report by Sheriff’s Dep. Heath Hanson states Bam Bam death on Nov. 27 could be nothing more than bad luck and worse timing…but not of a local maniac.
According to his report, Hanson determined the dog had a puncture hole wound in her hip that hindered her movements. He believes the dog then crawled down the hill about 2 miles to the highway where it was struck by a vehicle traveling highway speed.
“He believed that any logical explanation was that the dog was run over,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. David Conway, referring to Hanson’s report.
Hanson could not find an object in Bam Bam’s hip, and determined it could have been caused by a round-tipped arrow or other projectile, but probably not a bullet.
The report also lists Bam Bam’s owner as Robert McCandliss, 41, of Seeley Lake.
Despite earlier reports, McCandliss purchased the dog in April from Jean Loesch, a long-time resident of Seeley Lake.
Hanson’s report states that McCandliss and Bam Bam were on a hike when the two became separated. Thinking the 120-pound Rottweiler would catch up, McCandliss returned home, he told Hanson.
A Seeley Lake resident contacted McCandliss to report finding Bam Bam lying dead in the middle of Highway 83 north of Salmon Lake, the incident report stated.
The person who contacted McCandliss dragged the dog’s body off the highway.
Hanson arrived and tried to determine the cause of death and the extent of injuries.
Besides the puncture wound, the dog also suffered many lacerations and possible broken bones.
As for connection to other animal abuse in the Seeley Lake area, Capt. Conway was unaware of Lucky’s attack and was seeking more details.
After he became aware of the crime against Lucky and its proximity to Bam Bam’s death, Sgt. Conway sought more details about Lucky’.
For now, there is no active investigation involving Bam Bam’s untimely and unsettling death, Conway said.
The incident Hanson related contradicts Loesch’s, who believes Bam Bam was captured, tortured and killed before her body was transported to the highway.
And McCandliss still believes Bam Bam was kidnapped and tortured.
“I think someone stalked us after dark,” he said. “I do the same hike all the time so people know where I am. I let her run around (off leash) and she was 30 yards behind me. It was pitch dark and she literally disappeared.”
McCandliss would not say why he believes someone was stalking him but did say, “I think they were trying to get to me through her.”
Much of the information gathered by The Pathfinder in the Oct. 13 issue came from former owner Jean Loesch. McCandliss said Loesch immediately suspected two area residents of committing a crime against Bam Bam, McCandliss said.
But after a brief conversation with McCandless, he ended the interview with the Pathfinder.
Though McCandliss and Loesch are not close friends, she said they have common enemies, which makes her believe Bam Bam was the victim of a crime.
Loesch regularly accuses locals of using and selling illegal drugs on social media. Meanwhile, McCandliss had disputes with some of the same alleged drug users.
“Meth is a bad problem in Seeley Lake and I call them out on Facebook,” Loesch said. “And we have both been threatened.”
She does wonder if McCandliss suffers from PTSD. So does Tom Kutchai, who said McCandliss, a military veteran with tours in Iraq, has shown signs of paranoia and erratic behavior.
Kutchai is the vice-president of the Double Arrow Ranch Land Homeowners Association, where McCandliss lives.
Kutchai said McCandliss asked the board to prevent other landowners from building on their own land because it would ruin McCandliss’s view.
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