Eliotte Heinz
A 22-year-old woman reported missing in La Crosse was found dead Wednesday morning in the Mississippi River near Brownsville, Minn., authorities confirmed.
Eliotte Heinz had last been seen around 3:22 a.m. Sunday walking south on the 500 block of Front Street South in downtown La Crosse, Wisc.
On Wednesday morning, hours before her body was located, La Crosse Police issued a public request asking downtown businesses and residents to review security footage between 2 a.m. and 9 a.m. Sunday for any sightings of Heinz. That appeal followed an earlier statement asking for help locating her, noting multiple attempts by friends, family and law enforcement to find her.
“This was not the outcome we had hoped for throughout this search. Our thoughts are with Eliotte’s family, friends and all those who knew Eliotte. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from so many within the La Crosse community, the State of Wisconsin and nationally to locate Eliotte,” La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron said in a written statement.
Authorities said the cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy will be conducted. The investigation remains active.
UPDATE | Friday, July 25
Authorities say they do not believe there was any criminal conduct related to Eliotte's death. Her final autopsy results will reportedly not be completed for several months.
