Incident Summary:
On October
24, 2017 the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office located a human body
in a swampy area near Stark Rd and N Ugstad Rd in Midway Township. This
area is found on the outskirts of Proctor, adjacent to the Canadian
National Railyard. Members of the St. Louis County
Sheriff's Volunteer Rescue Squad were searching the area utilizing special
tracked vehicles to access the difficult terrain.
Positive
identification of the deceased will be determined by the Midwest Medical
Examiners Office. An autopsy is planned for tomorrow. Additional details
will be released after the autopsy is performed.
The incident remains under investigation.
Assisting Agencies
MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Superior Police Department, Proctor Police Department
Authority: Sgt. Wade Rasch
Date: October 24, 2017 Time: 13:30 PM
Additional Information or Update:
On
October 22, 2016 the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office was alerted that a
missing person case from the City of Superior may involve a location in St.
Louis County, outside of Proctor.
Jack
Cotrell was entered as a missing person by the Superior Police Dept on October
16th. He had not been seen or heard from since October 1st. Family and friends had learned of his
possible involvement with theft of copper wire from the Canadian National
railyard in Proctor. The Sheriff's Office, Superior PD, and MN
BCA were able to find and interview the involved parties of the original
theft and determined that Cotrell was most likely still in the area of the
railyard.
The
Sheriff's Office and Volunteer Rescue squad located Cotrell yesterday in a
narrow creek not far from the railyard. His remains were positively
identified today at an autopsy performed at the Midwest Medical Examiner's
Office (Ramsey, MN). There is no evidence of foul play with regards to
Cotrell's death. Preliminary results indicate drowning as a cause of
death. Toxicology results are pending.
The
Sheriff's Office, along with the Proctor Police Dept, did respond to a 911 call
on October 1st shortly before midnight. Possible trespassers were observed
by a CN employee. Evidence of copper theft was found by
responding officers, but no one was found on scene. The three accomplices
that were with Cotrell that evening have been identified and have given statements.
The
death is still under investigation.
A
Facebook page to help find Jack Cotrell was created on Oct 11th by family and
friends.
Authority: Sgt. Wade Rasch 218-336-4347 Date: 10-25-17 Time: 1710
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