DULUTH, Minn. — Authorities recovered the body of a missing University of Minnesota Duluth student from Minnesota Slip in Canal Park on Friday afternoon.
The Duluth Police Department and St. Louis County Rescue Squad recovered the body of Jacob Lavoie, 21, from the Duluth harbor slip at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, according to a press release from police, who were continuing to investigate.
Authorities confirmed that the body is that of Lavoie, an Inver Grove Heights native who had been missing since early Sunday morning when he left Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park.
Tim Johnson, a cousin of Lavoie’s mother and family spokesman, shared a statement from their family:
“We are devastated by the loss of Jacob. He was our son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to law enforcement, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the entire Duluth community, the Inver Grove Heights community, as well as everyone far and wide for your caring and concern in helping us locate Jacob. Now that Jacob has been found, we ask for your prayers, and also ask that you respect our privacy during our time of great loss. Thank you.”
Lavoie was a senior business major at UMD.
The university’s chancellor, Lendley Black, said in a statement: “This is an incredibly sad time. As much as we try to be prepared for something like this, it’s extremely difficult. UMD is such a tight community and we’re concerned for Jacob’s family, his friends on campus, and the faculty and staff that knew him.”
In the coming days, Black said the school will reach out to students and share resources with people who are grieving.