DEE was on old bull, dying between the age of 60 to 70. His left tusk was broken in life. It is believed he died of starvation and old age. His old worn teeth were less than one-quarter the size of healthy teeth, and these small teeth did not allow him to process enough food to remain healthy. DEE's skull was found in August 2009, about 275 feet (84 m) from the rest of his skeleton. There are several theories as to why the skull was separated from the body including that another mammoth may have moved it.

DEE's skeleton was collected and prepared by the Tate Museum between 2006 and 2009. It is among the largest and most complete of any Columbian mammoth. The original skeleton was stabilized, restored and mounted by Black Hill Institute in late 2009 and early 2010.