CHISAGO LAKE TOWNSHIP, Minn. (WCCO) – The body of a Minnesota woman who’s been missing for months has apparently been found.
A family spokesperson believes Danielle Jelinek’s remains were found about 300 yards from her ex-boyfriend’s home in Chisago Lake Township.
Jelinek disappeared on Dec. 8, 2012, after spending time with Aaron Schnagl.
He has since been arrested on drug-related charges and remains in jail.
According to Chisago County Sheriff Rick Duncan, that area had been searched nearly a dozen times over the winter when there was 18 inches of snow on the ground.
Around 3 p.m. Friday, a State Patrol helicopter on a routine search spotted a body.
An airboat was then used to recover the body of a woman.
The Anoka County Medical Examiner positively identified the body as Jelinek’s, according to a press release sent out late Friday.
“The family is pretty shook-up. They kind of knew this was coming all along,” Duncan said.
Sarah Radich lives between Aaron Schnagl’s home and where the body was found. For months she’s seen volunteers search the property around her home. Like so many others, she’s praying for closure.
“Hopefully it can all come to an end and the Jelinek family can have peace,” she said. “It can be over. They can know she’s safe in the arms of Jesus.”
Duncan said Schnagl has not been cooperating with their investigation into what happened to Jelinek.
But he’s hopeful Friday’s developments will answer a lot of questions. After the body was found, reserve deputies began searching the swamp for evidence.
