Update- body recovered near Proctor

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St. Louis County Sheriff's Office News Release

Incident Date: October 24, 2017

Incident Time:  8:37 AM

Incident Location: 

Stark Rd & N Ugstad Rd

INDIVIDUAL(S) INVOLVED: (Refer to News Media Policy-Rules III A. I Thru 4: Procedures B.1, A thru J & 1; 2b; 3b; g & h; 4a, b, & c)

Name:  Jack Allen Cotrell

Age: 51

Address: Superior, WI

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