F-M area teen apparently drowns in Beltrami Co. lake

Authorities say a 13-year-old girl from the Fargo-Moorhead area died while swimming Sunday in Lake Julia, north of Bemidji.

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s office says at around 5:00 PM Sunday, the 9-1-1 center got a report that the teen was missing after going swimming off of a pontoon. Friends unsuccessfully tried to locate the girl.

Law enforcement arrived and learned that the girl removed her personal flotation device and was on the ladder of the pontoon. She went under the water and did not resurface.

At 7:52 PM, a dive team located the girl’s body in 23 feet of water.

The body was transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Authorities say the girl was visiting friends in the area.

The girl’s identity has not been released.

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Beltrami Co. SO release:

PRESS RELEASE: SWIMMING FATALITY

July 31st, 2023

Durand Township, Beltrami County, MN – At 5:02PM on Sunday, July 30th, 2023 the Beltrami County 911 Emergency Communications Center received a report of a missing 13 year old female that had been swimming in Lake Julia, approximately 10 miles north of Bemidji. Friends had attempted to locate the female who had been swimming off of a pontoon but were unsuccessful and requested assistance from emergency responders.

Uponarrival, law enforcement learned that the female had just removed her personal floatation device and was on the ladder of the pontoon. The female went under the water and did not resurface. Deputies were assisted by other bystander boaters until additional law enforcement and fire resources arrived equipped with under water detection equipment. The Lakes Area Dive Team was also requested and responded to the scene.

At 7:52PM the dive team located the female deceased in 23 feet of water. The body was recovered and transported to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The female was from the Fargo/Moorhead area and was visiting friends in the area. No further information or the identity of the victim will be released.

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers, Minnesota State Patrol, Bemidji Fire Department, Bemidji Ambulance Service, the Lakes Area Dive Team and several bystanders. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office extends our gratitude to the residents in the area that allowed use of their personal boats until other resources arrived.

-Chief Deputy Jarrett Walton