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.
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.
Assisting Agencies
MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Superior Police Department, Proctor Police Department
Authority: Sgt. Wade Rasch Date: 10-25-17 Time: 1710
Additional Information or Update:
On 11/28/2017 the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office received
the final summary report from the Medical Examiner's Office in reference to the death of
Jack Cotrell.
The death was ruled an accident with a cause of
"methamphetamine toxicity". Other significant
conditions associated with Cotrell's cause of death include immersion in water
(the creek he was found in) and pulmonary emphysema. Investigators believe Cotrell was crossing a
swamp to avoid detection after he was observed by railyard employees. The investigation into Cotrell's death found
no evidence of foul play with regards to his actual death. However, the behavior by his associates after
his death was reprehensible. These individuals
would not come forward or volunteer their information to assist with
locating Cottrell for fear of getting in
trouble for stealing copper.
Authority: Sgt. Wade Rasch 218-336-4347 Date: 11/29/2017 Time: 1130AM
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