Dog Walker Discovers Body in Wooded Area Near Rochester, Death Investigation Launched

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office has started a death investigation after a dog walker discovered a person’s body in a wooded area. 

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That’s according to a statement issued Thursday morning by Olmsted County Sheriff’s Captain Tim Parkin. 

Deputies responded to the body discovery around 1:30 Wednesday afternoon. 

Body Discovered by Dog Walker in Rural Olmsted County

The dog walker reported seeing the body on the ground in a wooded area near the Gordon W. Yeager Wildlife Management Area and Silver Creek Road Northeast, which is north of Hwy. 14 and east of Rochester's Quarry Hill Nature Center. 

Parkin said the corpse is believed to have been in the elements for a lengthy period of time, saying the body's prolonged exposure to the elements prevented investigators from identifying the deceased person at the scene. 

Officials have not disclosed the gender of the body. So far there’s no indication whether or not foul play is suspected.

Parkin said preliminary information does not indicate that the body had been moved.

The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office responded to the scene and took possession of the body. Parkin said the death investigation is ongoing.

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