Monday, June 26, 2006

Suspicious Death Near Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis

The Minneapolis Park Police were called to investigate the discovery of a body in the shallow channel which connects two of Minneapolis' "crown jewel" lakes, Calhoun and Lake of the Isles.

For those not familiar with the area, the location is right in the heart of an enormous amount of activity, including walkers, bikers, skaters, sightseers, etc. On any given summer day there are many thousands of people within a stone's throw of this channel.

I believe it would be fairly unusual for someone to swim in the channel itself, so the discovery of a body in the water would immediately raise suspicions. The police seem to agree.

Here's the KSTP Eyewitness News story: "Woman's body found in Mpls. summer hotspot".

A park police employee found the 20-year-old woman's body around 10:00 Sunday morning.

The body was found partially submerged in the Lake of the Isles Channel, which connects the lake to Lake Calhoun. Many people passing by the channel saw police attempting to recover the body.

The lakes area was bustling with people Sunday morning when the discovery was made. Biker Sara Hill couldn't believe what she had stumbled onto. Police on the scene tell us investigators are interviewing people who may have known the woman.

"We're treating it as a suspicious death," said Lieutenant Greg Reinhardt of Minneapolis Police Department. "Investigators have been speaking to several people who may in fact know the person who's in the water."
"Suspicious" could mean suicide, but it could also mean homicide.

I'll post more as information becomes available.