The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office released the name of the boater found dead in Little Pelican Lake after he was reported missing Monday night, July 15.
The 73-year-old rural Pequot Lakes man was identified as Joseph Eric Wallin. Wallin was reported missing after the pontoon he was operating was found unoccupied with the trolling motor running at 9:27 p.m. Monday. In a news release, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported Wallin's body was located floating on the surface of the water at about 12:25 a.m. Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the sheriff's office stated the cause of death was drowning.
A 911 caller reported the man was last seen at 9 p.m. by another boater. The two, who know one another, were on the lake fishing in two separate boats. At 9:30 p.m., the second boater located the missing man’s pontoon with the running trolling motor. Deputies with the boat patrol began a search on the lake after receiving the call, using lights as an aid in the darkness.
The sheriff's office was assisted by the Breezy Point, Crosslake, Nisswa and Pequot Lakes police departments.
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