Woman’s Body Found in Mississippi River Near Winona

Winona, MN (KROC-AM News) - Human remains were recovered from the Mississippi River near Winona this morning.

Wisconsin Authorities Received Report of a Body in the River

A statement issued by the Winona County Sheriff's Office says dispatchers were contacted around 7:45 a.m. by the Trempealeau County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin concerning a report of a body in the water at Lock and Dam 6. The location was on the Minnesota side of the river, approximately nine miles downstream from Winona.

The Sheriff's Office says deputies responded to the location, where the remains of an adult female were later recovered from the river. The news release says the responding deputies requested assistance from Winona County Emergency Management and the Winona County Diving Rescue Team.

Difficult Conditions For Recovery Mission

Additional assistance was also requested from the Winona Fire Department and the Minnesota Air Rescue Team due to the difficult location.

The body was recovered from the river by Winona Fire Department firefighters, who rappelled down the face of the dam to secure the remains.

Autopsy and Identification Pending

The news release says the deceased woman was transported to the Southeast Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The name of the woman has not been released.

Earlier Search For Missing Winona Woman

Earlier this month, the Winona County Sheriff’s Office organized a large-scale search of the Mississippi River for a missing Winona woman. The search focused on a stretch of the river downstream from the levee in downtown Winona, but officials reported finding nothing of significance.

The Winona Police Department says 72-year-old Patricia Sweningsen was last seen in downtown Winona in mid-March.