Body recovered from Mississippi in Deer River

The body of an adult male was recovered from the Mississippi River Thursday, June 18, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports.

The sheriff’s office received a report at 11:36 p.m. Wednesday of a 41-year-old man missing from the Schoolcraft State Park on the Mississippi River in Unorganized Township, rural Deer River.

Deputies arrived and learned the Deer River man had been recreating with friends and had walked away from the area earlier in the evening. A search of the campground and state forest area was conducted throughout the evening hours. Law enforcement performed additional searches of the area, including the Mississippi River, Thursday. A body of a male was recovered from the river at about 2:47 p.m. that day.

The identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family members. An autopsy is scheduled with the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is ongoing.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Minnesota Department of National Resources Conservation and the Lakes Area Dive Team.