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Here's What We Know About That Pokemon Go Story Making the Rounds

A report claimed a woman found a dead body while playing Pokemon Go.

23 Comments

Earlier today, a dead body was discovered in Riverton, Wyoming in the Big Wind River under a highway bridge. A story from County 10 says a 19-year-old woman found the body while playing Pokemon Go. However, after speaking with authorities, including the Riverton Police Department and the Fremont County Sheriff's Department, this could not be confirmed.

"At this time the investigation is ongoing," reads a line from the Sheriff's Department's press release. "Further details as to the circumstances surrounding the death will be released after preliminary autopsy results are received and we have a clearer picture of what occurred."

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GameSpot asked spokespeople for the Riverton Police Department and the Sheriff's Department if the person who discovered the body was playing a video game at the time they found the body. However, neither office would confirm this.

We left a message for the sheriff, Jack R. Hornecker. We are also in the process of trying to contact the person who reportedly discovered the body.

The press release mentions only that the body "was discovered by [a] local resident who was walking in the immediate area." The body was found under Wyoming Highway 789 bridge at around 8:40 AM local time.

"The death appears to be accidental in nature and possibly that of a drowning," the press release mentions. "There is no evidence at this time that would indicate foul play. Evidence located at the scene has led investigators to believe the man went into the water at the location he was found."

Riverton Police are working the case alongside the County Sheriff with assistance from the FBI. Check back with GameSpot for more on this case and the possible connection to Pokemon Go.

This story has since been picked up by other outlets, such as Uproxx and Billings, Montana news site KTVQ, though County 10 appears to be the only site mentioning the Pokemon Go connection. It's also worth noting that the County 10 website appears to run on the Pitchengine platform, which allows people to submit their own stories. That doesn't necessarily discredit the story. But that fact, along with some quotes in the story, appear to raise some flags.

The person who reportedly found the body apparently told County 10, "I was trying to get a Pokemon from a natural water resource." This person also referred to multiple Pokemon as "Pokemons," which we wouldn't expect a fan of the franchise to say. However, it's possible this person wasn't a big-time Pokemon fan. After all, the game is sitting at the top of the iTunes charts, so it's visible to a huge audience right now.

In other Pokemon Go news, a man caught a Pidgey while his wife was preparing to give birth. Additionally, the state of Washington is telling people not to play Pokemon Go while driving.

For more on Pokemon Go, check out GameSpot's roundup of everything you need to know.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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catsimboy

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Dead body used splash... but nothing happened.

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SonyLife

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Edited By SonyLife

I haven't found any dead people yet but I did run into a couple of hobos giving each other BJ's in the park. Of course I had to capture their Sevipers.

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Marky360

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Edited By Marky360

I don't understand why it matters whether or not she was playing a video game when she discovered the body I mean that is unimportant the important thing to take away from the story is while walking around this woman discovered a dead body. This also really has no real connection to Pokemon Go as the mere fact that she MAY have been playing it when she stumbled upon the dead body doesn't mean anything. She could have been doing any number of things when she discovered the body. Playing Pokemon Go did not specifically lead her to the body. This story just seems so random and pointless at least from the perspective told here this stories connection to gaming is so loose it just really doesn't belong here.

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deactivated-5c1c32e0b8cc8

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@Marky360: Right? I couldn't have said it much better myself. It's like saying I was eating McDonald's when I stumbled upon this dead body and now it's McDonald's fault that I found it. If I wouldn't have eaten McDonald's that day, then I would have never found the dead body. Like... what?!

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Marky360

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Edited By Marky360

@jayskoon93:

I feel like ppl are over reacting when it comes to Pokemon Go. The game is real popular right now so any news story with the slightest of connections to Pokemon Go get blown up into big proportions even if the Pokemon Go connection is very small. "News Flash Terrorist strike again one of the terrorists may have been an avid Pokemon Go player news at 11"

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untouchables111

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Sad story. Hope they weren't murdered

Tips for trainers:

1. U do not have to be at the exact place a Pokemon appears. U can trap them at a long distance.

2. Use the insense when traveling

3. Catch everything cause evolution also gives a lot of XP

4. Turn off the AR setting. This cause the app to lag and the trap will fail and they run every time.

5. Fun

2 • 
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ethanm1834

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Ash, oops, Red should have faced the same problem atleast once. Dead trainers along the way that just starved out in the wilderness.

3 • 
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Djroth

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OK, but was there a Gastly there or not?

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cornbredx

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It's like "Stand by me" for the modern times.

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catsimboy

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@cornbredx: Pokemon Go is like "You guys wanna go see a dead body?"

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MILK

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> We left a message for the sheriff, Jack R. Hornecker.

Just let the police do their job. Geez.

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Thanatos2k

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@milk: I hope they respond: "The hell does it matter?"

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Marky360

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@computernoises:

Exactly what I said this whole article just seems completely pointless unless GameSpot is getting into reporting in the news at large and not just gaming news but this articles ties to gaming news specifically is practically non-existent.

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linthes999

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@computernoises: What if the deceased met their demise because of Pokemon Go?

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Marky360

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@linthes999:

Now that would actually make the article a little more worth reporting in a gaming site because Pokemon Go itself had an actual affect on the story and it wasn't just some random coincidence.

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elheber

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"Check back with GameSpot for more on this case and the possible connection to Pokemon Go."

Police: "Yes, we can confirm a body was found at such and such location. We are currently investigating the circumstances of this tragic death."

GameSpot: "Yes, but was the person who found it playing Pokemon?"

Police: "..."

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Thanatos2k

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Edited By Thanatos2k

@elheber: And they wonder why they haven't commented.

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suicidesn0wman

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@elheber: LOL

Can't wait for the official report where it is revealed as a homocide and that they have an apb out on someone nicknamed Squirtle.

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iandizion713

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Edited By iandizion713

Sweet, Pokemon GO helped solve a mystery and bring peace to a family.

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darksouls

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Dang...

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TJDMHEM

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everyone should be careful while playing pokemon go.

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