Two Die on Big Winnie

Two men died after a boat capsized on Lake Winnibigoshish over the weekend.   

The Cass County Sheriff's office was notified about 6:30 PM of the incident in the northern part of the County near Bena.  Responding officers located the boat and several items floating in the water near the boat.  An initial search of the area was performed until dark.  The area was searched by boat, as well as by Minnesota State Patrol helicopter.  Conditions were very windy with wind gusts between 30-40 MPH.  

The search resumed at daylight Sunday.  At approximately 9:30 AM, one male victim, age 43, from Minneapolis, MN was located near shore.   The search continued and at approximately 5:00 PM, the body of the second male victim, age 53, from Princeton, MN was located approximately 200 yards from where the boat was initially found.  Both victims were taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. 

The search was conducted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Lakes Area Dive Team, MN State Patrol, MN Department of Natural Resources, Leech Lake Tribal Police and Leech Lake Conservation Officers.