Body of man found
Originally published 01:18 p.m., July 9, 2008
Updated 03:09 p.m., July 9, 2008
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Otter Tail County Sherrif Brian Schlueter makes a statement regarding the search for a missing Otter Tail County man. Watch »
The body of a 49-year-old Fergus Falls man was found about a quarter-mile from his farmhouse around noon today, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office.
A farmer found the body of Timothy John Smedstad while out in a soybean field 400 to 500 yards from Smedstad’s farmhouse northwest of Fergus Falls, said Sheriff Brian Schlueter.
No foul play is suspected but the investigation into Smedstad’s death continues, Schlueter said.
Smedstad left a voice mail message for a friend at around 11:20 a.m. Sunday saying he was lost in a cornfield and needed help, said Chief Deputy Stacy Paulseth.
The sheriff’s department was notified Tuesday afternoon that Smedstad was missing. By 4 p.m. Tuesday searchers were combing an area northwest of Fergus Falls.
The search expanded Tuesday night to include an airplane and Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department Posse horses. Wednesday morning a 60-person foot search was initiated involving crews from the Fergus Falls, Rothsay, Dalton, Elizabeth and Pelican Rapids fire departments, as well as Ringdahl Ambulance and the Department of Natural Resources.
“Last night we started out with people on foot walking and we had planes up flying the area for aerial observation,” Paulseth said.
How Smedstad became lost remains unclear because the corn in the vicinity of his home is about two feet high.
“If a person was confused or disoriented for whatever reason, they could get lost — especially in the evening or late toward the evening — (and) it could be easy to get turned around,” Paulseth said.
The search began in a field adjacent to Smedstad’s farmhouse and expanded to include the Pelican River, which is located near the property, Schlueter said.
The gulleys, brush and dense grass in the area proved a challenge for searchers, he said.
It’s tough for searchers to find something in such conditions unless they’re right on top of something, Schlueter said.