How a missing Sebeka man got down to the banks of the Mississippi River, just blocks south of where he was last seen at Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd continues to be a mystery.
Brainerd police Saturday found the body of Richard Ernest Paquin, 79, on the west bank of the river by the BNSF Railroad Bridge, located between the Washington and Laurel Street bridges.
Brainerd Police Deputy Chief Mike Bestul said Monday that Paquin’s body was found in about 12-18 inches of water.
Bestul said details on how Paquin died will not be known until the autopsy results are complete. However, police still believe that foul play was not a factor in the case.
“Hypothermia is a concern we have with how he was dressed when he left the hospital,” said Bestul. “But we won’t know for sure how he died until the autopsy results are in. From the time he went missing (on Wednesday) to when his body was found, we don’t know what happened.”
Bestul said a volunteer came forward Saturday wanting to help look for Paquin. The investigator told the person the missing man’s family organized a search for Paquin and that he could help them or do what he wanted to do in the search. Bestul said the man searched underneath the Washington Street bridge and found some personal identification items of Paquin. Bestul said authorities then searched the area from the bridge, traveling south and found the body about 200-300 feet away from where the personal items were found. Bestul said police conducted aerial searches Thursday and Friday in the area the body was eventually found but did not find anything.
About 20 law enforcement authorities helped in the search Saturday, including firefighters, State Patrol and the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office. Bestul said the family was not near the location when the body was found. The family was searching the river bank area behind the hospital.
Paquin was reported missing around 2:20 p.m. Wednesday after he was discharged from Essentia Health. He was supposed to be picked up by a relative, but was nowhere to be found.
Brainerd Police said a relative and Paquin had a telephone conversation earlier Wednesday that he would be picked up from the hospital. Paquin had his vehicle parked between Brainerd and Sebeka and the relative was going to take him from the hospital to his vehicle. The vehicle was still at that location.
According to the hospital’s surveillance cameras, Paquin walked out of the hospital around 12:35 p.m. Because he suffered from a medical condition in which he became easily confused and disoriented, several searches were conducted for Paquin along the Mississippi River shortly after his disappearance.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl.
Comments (10)
Add commentBestul is not stating the
Bestul is not stating the facts!!!! Minutes before my Dad was found I was searching for my Dad and I was about 30 feet from where he had fallen into the river, when I received a phone call from my sister asking me to get out of the area because of the blood hound dogs that here Horse friends brought to Brainerd to search for my Dad as a favor did not any relatives to be in the area so that the dogs would not pick up a relatives sent!!!! Also the Crow Wing Sheriff's department was not called until a family member asked the Police department to give the Sheriff authority to help with the search on Saturday around 11:00. The search Dogs started at the hospital and did pick up my father's scent. They were then brought over to the Washington bridge area to help find my Father. My father was a veteran from the Cold War and was in the Air Force, he took part in missions flying across Russia. He had POW training. If anyone has a missing love one you need to contact MN search and rescue. Thank God my sister has such great friends to bring in the search and rescue dogs. Brainerd Police Department is not stating the facts. They requested that those of us that were at the Police Department to go search for our Father by the Laurel Bridge. Sorry but I am going through a grieving process and need the truth!!!
Thank you to the kind
Thank you to the kind citizens of Brainerd that provided my family support and comfort. There were many of you as my family passed out fliers for my Father.
comment from family...
I know there arent any words that really can say the right things when you lose a close one so tragically. So I just wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss and for all the your family has gone thru this past week.
man
when some one is missing search dogs should be sendt out right away.not wait my thoughts to the family.sorry for your loss
Missing Sebeka man
Why did it take until saturday, and a family member asking the Brainerd PD to let the CW Sheriff's office asssist? Considering the circumstances surrounding the gentleman's disappearance, all agencies should have been involved immediately. The longer you wait the less chance of a good outcome. Someone really dropped the ball on this one. My heart goes out to the family.
I was told by the Brainerd
I was told by the Brainerd PD, that it was sent out to the whole state of Minnesota, and nationally, Thursday Feb 16th, 2012, at 10:06 pm! Now I find out that they waited untill Saturday Feb 18th to even contact their own Sheriff Department? When did we start to hire people that would openly make false statements, to Police us, and look out for our safety?
Brainerd Police didnt find
Brainerd Police didnt find him, my sisters friends with the dogs found him! Give credit, where credits due!
Mystery?
Why is it such a mystery to Chief Deputy Bestul how Mr. Paquin got down on to the river bank? It's simple. The search dogs that friends of the family brought in on Saturday morning followed the scent and showed Mr. Paquin's movements from when he left the hospital; to where he was after the items under the bridge were located.
Mr. Paquin's children and other families were most definitely at the location where the body was found. His son was walking behind the handler with the cadaver dog and saw and identified the body.
sorry for your loss
I wish caring words could justify my thoughts but thy can never do justice. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your entire family. God bless your friends who did the work of the police department and may your dad rest in peace.
Now its time to rant on the police. This is a pathetic example of what our police force is. It is time for some changes again Mayor Wallin. This is an embarrassment to Brainerd and a travesty to the family. THEY DIDNT DO ANYTHING MR. MAYOR! Are you going to sit idle and not do anything about this?
They lied in the paper, what else they lie about?
Hospital Policy
First of all, I am so sorry for your loss. What is the policy of the hospital upon discharging a patient? I thought a family member should be present, and a nurse to be with the patient, until someone is there to pick them up? Especially if he has medical condition like this man did. They never should have left him alone, to walk out of the hospital! I though about him every day and night, wondering where he could be, if he had found shelter, I prayed and prayed. Someone should be held responsible!