Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Gordon Ramsay
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 12th, 2025
Media Contact: Sgt. Nicholas Toewe
(218) 471-7243
Recovered body on Shannon Lake
On August 12th, 2025, at 1534 hours, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office received a call of an overturned canoe with a deceased party nearby. The canoe was on Shannon Lake, which is located approximately 7 miles northwest of Chisholm, MN.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, along with the Chisholm ambulance, French Township First Responders, the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad responded. Family members of the deceased party were also on scene.
The deceased party was identified as 76 year old, Louis Vajdl, a local Chisholm resident. Vajdl was found floating near his canoe and not wearing his life jacket. Earlier in the morning, Vajdl had told family members that he was going out to check the wild rice which he has done for many years.
The case remains under investigation, pending results from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office but criminal activity is not suspected.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office would like to remind citizens to practice safe boating habits, as the end of summer approaches and water temperatures start to cool.
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