For the Gazette

STEVENS POINT – The body of a person reported missing has been pulled from the Wisconsin River.

On March 4, around 3 p.m., Stevens Point Police officers were called to a Stevens Point residence regarding a missing individual.

Cole B. Peterson, 20, was last heard from at 2 a.m. that morning and was near the area of the 900 block of Main Street.

“Several SPPD officers, along with the assistance of the Stevens Point Fire Department, began to check areas on the west side of town, where Cole’s cell phone last pinged at approximately 2:13 a.m.,” a release from Stevens Point Lt. Joe Johnson stated.

“Officers deployed a drone in the area of the Wisconsin River and quickly observed a small portion of open water near the channel, west of Pfiffner Park.  Two officers were sent to that location along the east shoreline and observed one set of shoe impressions, walking to the area of open water, with no set of returning shoe impressions.” 

Mutual aid was requested from the Marathon County Alert Dive Team, who arrived on the scene on March 5 at 9 a.m.

“The Stevens Point Fire Department deployed the Ice Angel air boat from Bukolt Park with members of the dive team and traveled down river to the area in question.  After a short while, divers located a body and removed it from the Wisconsin River. The body was positively identified by a family member as Cole and he was turned over to the Portage County Medical Examiner.”

“At this time the Stevens Point Police Department does not have any reason to believe there is foul play involved, however, the investigation is ongoing.’ 

The responding emergency service agencies were further assisted by the Portage County Sheriff’s Department.