The body of a missing 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student was pulled from the Wisconsin River

Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
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The body of a missing 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student was pulled from the Wisconsin River Sunday, according to the Stevens Point Police Department.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, police officers were dispatched to a Stevens Point residence for a report of a missing person, identified as Cole B. Peterson of Chaseburg. The last known contact with Peterson was around 2 a.m. Saturday around the 900 block of Main Street, Stevens Point Police said.

Police and the Stevens Point Fire Department began checking areas on the west side of town, where Peterson's cell phone last pinged around 2:13 a.m.

When officers used a drone in the Wisconsin River area, they saw a small portion of open water near the channel, west of Pfiffner Park, according to police. Officers found one set of shoe impressions walking to the area of open water, but no set of returning impressions.

Around 9 a.m. Sunday, the fire department deployed an Ice Angel air boat from Bukolt Park with members of the Marathon County Alert Dive Team, and traveled down the river to the area in question, police said.

Divers located a body and removed it from the river. The body was identified as Peterson by a family member, according to police.

"Our prayers are with the family at this time," police said.

At this time, the police department "does not have any reason to believe there is foul play involved." The body was turned over to the Portage County Medical Examiner.

The investigation is ongoing.

Peterson, a junior, was studying natural resources, and was a "beloved" member of the university's landscaping and grounds crew, according to a Sunday Facebook post from UW-Stevens Point.

"It’s never easy to lose a member of the Pointer family, and Cole’s loss will be felt deeply by many," the Facebook post said.

Peterson was described as "an outstanding, reliable and trusted worker and a student leader."

"Few words can adequately convey our deepest sympathy to Cole’s parents, family and friends," the Facebook post said.

UW-Stevens Point said it has resources available for students and the university community affected by the loss of Peterson.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Body of missing man, 20, pulled from Wisconsin River in Stevens Point