Homicide investigation follows recovery of body at Bonnie Lake

The body of an adult male was recovered late Sunday afternoon from the outlet creek south of Bonnie Lake in the northwest corner of the county west of Malden.

A witness Monday reported to the Gazette the body was bound at the arms and legs and may have been a friend who has been missing since December.

Sheriff Brett Myers reported a fisherman discovered the body just north of the Belsby Road crossing of the creek at Hole in the Ground.

Sheriff Myers said they are now investigating the death as a homicide. Identification of the body and the cause of death have not been announced. Results from an autopsy were expected later this week.

County Coroner Pete Martin said Monday the body appeared to have been in the water for several days, possibly weeks to months. He added the body could have been in Bonnie Lake and moved down the channel with high water.

Bobby Lowells of Malden reported seeing the body to the Gazette. Lowells said he believes the body as that of a friend who has been missing since a dispute at a residence in Malden last December.

The sheriff and coroner declined to confirm or deny reports the body was bound. Sheriff Myers said Wednesday said they are following several leads and deputies have been checking descriptions of listed missing persons to see if the recovered body matches up with one of the descriptions.

He added they are awaiting the results of the autopsy which could be a key factor in the investigation.

Lowells said he and a friend were camping on the island at Bonnie Lake Saturday night. On Sunday they were returning to the south end the lake and met two people in a canoe who believed they had seen a floating body.

He said as they continued town the channel his dog began to bark. He said by that time another boat was on the scene and the recovery efforts began.

Lowells said he and his friend went up and down the channel Saturday and did not see a body. He added that several boats were on the lake over Sunday and that led to increased traffic in the channel which is used for access to the lake.