Le Sueur Co. Man, 77, Drowns In Lake Francis

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 77-year-old man from Le Sueur County drowned while swimming in Lake Francis Monday evening.

According to the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office, around 7:30 p.m. deputies received a call of a possible drowning on Lake Francis in Elysian Township.

Upon arrival, crews learned that Richard Edwin Schoenstedt had last been seen swimming in the afternoon outside of his home on the 22600 block of Francis Lane.

Witnesses told authorities that Schoenstedt had a life jacket with him, which crews later found on the shore roughly 30 feet from where he was last seen.

Le Sueur County Water Patrol, Dive Team and the Elysian Fire and Rescue began search efforts. Roughly an hour later, Schoenstedt's body was found.

His body was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.