Family of man who died in Mongolia still awaiting autopsy results

The family of a local man who died on a hiking trip in Mongolia is still waiting on autopsy results through the U.S. Embassy there, the man's father said Wednesday.

Colin McLain, a 2003 graduate of Central High School, left for Mongolia in May to begin an eight-week "externship" for the legal adviser to the country's leader. He was found dead in Bogdkhan National Park after he was reportedly missing for more than two days.

He was hiking in the park with another American.

His father, Randy McLain, was told that in the final day of their hike, Colin McLain stopped to rest and told the other American to continue without him.

"I've been told that they were close to the end of the trail. But it was 36 hours later that [the American] reported Colin missing," Randy McLain said. "It seems suspicious. It seems as if they would have known sooner he may have had a better chance."

Randy McLain was informed Tuesday that his son's body was found in the national park. Unless there's been foul play, he said, the family shouldn't have any problems getting Colin McLain's body to the United States once the autopsy is complete.

In addition to receiving regular updates from the Embassy, Randy McLain said he has received phone calls from the U.S. ambassador to Mongolia and his son's boss, Ganzorig Gombosuren, the legal adviser to the president of Mongolia.

Ganzorig "said he was sorry all this happened. He said they'll do the best they can to find answers," Randy McLain said.

"I don't know if it was true, but Colin told us he was the first foreign person they had helping with their government."

ehevern@semissourian.com

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