Three bodies found within three days in few-mile radius in Minneapolis

Three bodies were found within three days, just a few miles of each other, in Minneapolis, with police investigating the string of unexplained deaths.

The latest body was found around 1 p.m. Monday near the Mississippi River and Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis, a police spokesperson told The Independent Thursday. The victim was identified by the University of Minnesota police as Randip Eugene Satoskar, 54. The investigation is ongoing, but at this time, there is no known connection to any other incidents.

The body was discovered two miles along the Mississippi River bank from another body, the first one to be found on Saturday at 6 p.m., in a wooded area near East River Parkway. The victim was identified by police as Karen Lynn Sognesand, 56, of Maple Grove.

The second body was found Sunday around 11:30 a.m. near the shoreline of Bde Maka Ska Lake, about five miles northeast of Stone Arch Bridge. The identity and cause of death have not been released, but the body was found in “a severe state of decomposition, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

“MPD is familiar with the three cases. Currently, there is no known connection between these cases, or to any other incidents,” the Minneapolis Police Department spokesperson said Thursday.

The Independent has contacted the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

A fourth person was found dead Wednesday morning under the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, MPD told The Independent Thursday. The incident is an apparent suicide, police said.

In Inver Grove Heights, about 19 miles from Minneapolis, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information about Timothy Bryan Standish Jr., 40, of Minneapolis, who was found dead Friday in the Mississippi River. Anyone with information about Standish, his recent activities or associates is asked to call 651-438-8477 or submit a tip through the sheriff’s office website.

If you are based in the U.S., and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you