Two victims in Mill Lake canoeing incident identified; third body recovered



WALWORTH COUNTY -- Officials have identified the two people recovered from the icy waters of Mill Lake in the Town of East Troy in Walworth County.

The bodies of 20-year-old Lanny Sack and 21-year-old Christopher  McQuillen were recovered from the lake in the Town of East Troy on Sunday afternoon, January 3rd.

Around 3:30 p.m. Monday, FOX6 News learned a third body has been recovered. That body was recovered around 2:30 p.m. Identification is pending the Walworth County Medical Examiner's notification process.

Search of Mill Lake in Walworth County



"The three that have been recovered so far were in fairly close proximity. Any resources that we need I am pulling in so that we can bring this to a conclusion as soon as possible," Kurt Picknell, Walworth County sheriff said.

All four victims in this case are from Illinois.   FOX6 News is told they were part of a group of about a dozen people staying at a house on Mill Lake.

DNR officials believed they located the other two bodies via sonar equipment Sunday. But darkness and freezing temperatures made it difficult for crews to continue their efforts on Sunday night. The search was called off around 7:00 p.m. Sunday.

The search efforts resumed on Monday -- by air and by water.

Search of Mill Lake in Walworth County



"You`re searching an area of highest probability until you`re eliminating those areas and then you`re moving," an official said.

Search of Mill Lake in Walworth County



Throughout the day on Monday, dive teams rotated on and off the lake because of the near-freezing water.

"Water temperature is around 34 degrees. We`re on the verge of making ice around here," Jason Roberts with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said.

Officials said shortly after 5:00 p.m. search crews would be leaving the water for the night because of darkness and cold temperatures.

The search will resume at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday for the fourth body.







We're told this all began when four people went out on Mill Lake in a canoe between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. Sunday.

Later on Sunday morning, friends noticed they hadn't come back -- and a search began.

"They found a canoe overturned a close distance from the house," Town of East Troy Police Chief James Surges said.

Search of Mill Lake in Town of East Troy



At some point after 2:00 a.m. Sunday, the four men left the home, and took a canoe from the boat launch.

"They weren`t dressed like they were going for a paddle. They looked like they were dressed in casual type clothes," Roberts said.

Officials say alcohol may have been a factor in this incident.

"There were no PFDs or life jackets found, either floating in the water, on the victims that were recovered, or in the boat itself that was brought to shore," Roberts said.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will be handling this investigation.

"I'm very sad to see this happen," Helen Newman said.

Search of Mill Lake in Town of East Troy



Police say a drowning incident occurred on this particular body of water this past summer.

They warn anyone thinking of going near the water right now to be sure to have specialized equipment and clothing, and of course, it is important that you do not mix alcohol with these dangerous conditions.

This investigation was occurring near Marsh Road and Highway J -- in the Town of East Troy.

NOTE: This Mill Lake is a part of Lake Beulah. It is not the same Mill Lake that is part of the Lauderdale Lakes in southern Walworth County.

PHOTO GALLERY: 



Jason Roberts with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers these safety tips for anyone planning to enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources – notably activities around ice or open water -- during the winter.

If you do go on the ice:


    If you go through the ice:


      For more tips, the DNR also has information on its website about what to do should you fall through the ice and how to make ice claws.