Body of Jacob Lavoie recovered from Minnesota Slip
Photo courtesy of the Duluth Police Department
Authorities confirmed that they have pulled the body of Jacob Lavoie from the Minnesota Slip, near Canal Park, at approximately 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.
Lavoie was last seen at Grandma’s Sports Garden in Canal Park on Saturday, Aug. 31 around midnight and early in the morning on Sept. 1.
”This is an incredibly sad time,” said UMD Chancellor Lendley (Lynn) Black in a statement. “As much as we try to be prepared for something like this, it's extremely difficult. UMD is such a tight community and we're concerned for Jacob's family, his friends on campus, and the faculty and staff that knew him. One of the qualities that defines UMD is the strong contentedness that exists among our community. As much as we may mourn individually for Jacob, our strength is in pulling together and leaning on each other to move forward.”
Chancellor Black continued in saying that in the coming days [UMD will] reach out to students, sharing resources for those who are grieving.
“We acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our community law enforcement agencies who worked on this search– the Duluth Police Department, the UMD Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad. We are also so grateful to the community for their sincere support,” Chancellor Black said.
Earlier in the morning on Sept. 6, before the body was recovered, Doctor Lisa Ann Erwin, Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students at the University of Minnesota Duluth, sent out an email to the campus community offering support.
“We in Student Life are following with great concern the troubling news about our missing student, Jake LaVoie,” Erwin said in her email this morning. “We also know that students may be having trouble or feeling anxious or upset as they navigate this emergency, especially those who know Jake.”
Erwin offered resources to students in support.
Consider talking with a staff or faculty member you trust. Sometimes talking about your feelings with someone who cares can help. A trusted faculty or staff member can also help you connect to others that may be of assistance.
Consider participating in a UMD Counseling "Let's Talk" session. More about "Let's Talk" may be found here. The times and locations for the program are listed below.
Mondays, 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Kirby Student Center 361
Tuesdays, 5 to 7 p.m, Lake Superior Hall 175
Wednesdays, 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Sports and Health Center 193
Thursdays, 1 to 3 p.m., Kirby Student Center 361
Contact Counseling Services. Veronica Gaidelis-Langer, our Case Manager in Counseling Services, is a great resource. (x7913)
Call the Office of Student Life for assistance. (x8502)
Last updated Sept. 6, at 5:40 p.m.
This is a developing story.