Updated: Mendota Heights PD Missing Person Case Linked to Body Found in Mississippi River

The body of a man recovered from the Mississippi River near the Wakota Bridge in South St. Paul may be related to a missing person case being investigated by the Mendota Heights Police Department.

A bicycle was found abandoned by the Mendota Bridge April 25. A vehicle nearby was also found abandoned later in the day, according to a statement released today by the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 29, a member of the clergy reported a missing person to the Minneapolis Police Department. The missing person was described as being depressed and possibly suicidal.

According to the Sheriff’s report, the person identified in the missing person report has been identified as the listed owner of the vehicle found April 26. The manual for the bike was found in the missing person's apartment.

"We're very confident that the person we found is the person that's missing from Minneapolis," said Chief Deputy Tim Leslie of the sheriff's office.

The Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is in custody of the body. The identification of the body will not be released until positive identification has been made and next of kin are notified.