Woman's body found in Morrison quarry

LITTLE FALLS -- A woman's body was pulled Monday from a non-operating granite quarry in Belle Prairie Township, northeast of Little Falls.

The victim's identity and the cause of death are pending an autopsy from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office. Foul play hasn't been ruled out, said Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel.

"We can tell with relative certainty it didn't appear to be accidental or suicide," Wetzel said of the woman's death. "We just don't have many details now until we get the report back from the (medical examiner's) office."

He declined to elaborate whether evidence was found on or near the woman that would indicate cause of death.

A passerby found the woman floating in the quarry about 4 p.m. Monday, Wetzel said. The Morrison County Dive Team recovered the body. Wetzel said the quarry, off Morrison County Road 45, is about 40 feet deep.

Also responding to the quarry were the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Pierz Fire Department.