Authorities Recover Body Of Third Illinois Man In Wisconsin Canoe Accident, One Still Missing
(CBS) -- The body of a third Illinois man has been recovered after a canoe capsized in a frigid Wisconsin lake on Sunday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Authorities are continuing to search for a fourth person who was in the canoe.
The bodies of Lanny Patrick Sack, 20, and Christopher J. McQuillan, 21 were recovered Sunday morning in Walworth County and the body of a third man was recovered at 2:33 p.m. Monday, a spokesman for the Wisconsin DNR announced said.
The identity of third man has not been released and a fourth occupant of the canoe is still missing. All four attended New Trier High School in north suburban Winnetka.
They were staying with a larger group of friends at house on Lake Beulah and went outside around 2:30 a.m. Sunday to smoke cigarettes as the others were retiring, said Jason Roberts, a warden for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
It wasn't until around 9 a.m. that the other friends realized the four were missing. Footprints in the snow led to a boathouse, and an overturned canoe was discovered along a rim of ice, Roberts said.
"They walked on to the boathouse, and they saw that … the canoe that was in there was gone. From there, they saw some tracks on the edge of the ice, right along the shoreline, and they looked out into the lake, and they saw an overturned canoe," Roberts said.
The group of friends that had remained at the house told investigators everyone had been drinking before the accident, he said. There was no indication the four victims had taken flotation devices with them, and the two bodies that were recovered indicated the men were not properly dressed for cold-weather paddling, Roberts said.
"A lot of poor decisions collided," Roberts said.
Chris McQuillan's father Joe says the family is heartbroken
"We know he's in heaven," he said. "He was a lovely boy. He was full of life and instead of focusing on one tragedy, he was the kind of kid who last semester his greatest accomplishment was doing a talent show with Down's [syndrome] kids.
Brandon Goldberg got the call Sunday that his good friend Mori Weinstein is still missing.
"Mori is one of the most amazing kids," Goldberg said. "When he walked into a room, the whole room smiles. He's so laid back. The most relaxed kid I've ever met."
New Trier Township High School District 203 Superintendent Dr. Linda Yonke said in a statement, "Our deepest condolences are extended to the families and friends as they cope with this tragic loss.
Authorities will resume their search Tuesday morning.