Grafton Man Found Dead in River

A 63-year-old Grafton man has been found dead following a search that began nearly 24 hours earlier.

According to Grafton Police Chief Anthony Dumas, at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, the Grafton Police Department was asked to conduct a welfare check on 63-year-old Kenneth Lee Wilson, of Grafton, when his employer reported him absent from work. Police, along with close friends of Wilson, attempted to locate him, unsuccessfully.

Today, at approximately 12:05 p.m., as officers and friends attempted to search for Wilson, a deceased male was located in the Park River at Lestikow Park in Grafton. The male was positively identified as Wilson.

The body was transported to the University of North Dakota for an autopsy, and the results are not available at this time. There is no indication of foul play, Dumas says, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Grafton Police Department was assisted by the Walsh County Sheriff’s Office, Grafton Volunteer Fire Department, Walsh County Emergency Management and friends of Wilson.