http://www.trftimes.com/archive/111903/search_ends_for_missing_tr.htm
Search ends for missing TRF man
by April Scheinoha
Reporter
The search for a missing 21-year-old Thief River Falls man has ended. Family members identified a body that was found Sunday as that of Jordan John Knox.
Searchers found Knox's body hanging from a tree near 158th Street Northeast, approximately three-fourths of a mile from Highway 59 in Rocksbury Township, at about 4 p.m. Sunday. The discovery ended a four-day search for Knox, who had been reported missing Nov. 12.
Knox's body has been taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. Thief River Falls Police Chief Jim Haugen noted that preliminary autopsy results indicated that Knox died from asphyxia by hanging. Haugen commented that the preliminary autopsy does not include toxicology results.
Since the body was found in the county, that portion of the case is now in the hands of the Pennington County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Mike Hruby remarked that the case remains under investigation.
"We aren't ready to rule it a suicide yet," said Hruby. He stated that several things that need to be addressed before the official cause of death could be determined. When asked to what he was referring, Hruby declined to comment.
Prior to the discovery of Knox's body, over 100 people had looked for him throughout the city of Thief River Falls Sunday afternoon. Area law enforcement, family members, friends and volunteers went door-to-door asking residents if they had seen Knox or anything suspicious. They also checked for any evidence of Knox.
That search was the most extensive of those coordinated by area law enforcement and Knox's family, friends and fellow church members.
On Friday, about 40 people searched a wooded area behind Knox's church, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Larry Mogen, a fellow church member, remarked that they decided to examine that area because they knew Knox liked to walk there.
Mogen and the others, who included Knox's brother and one of his sisters, also searched a route they suspected he may have traveled to work Nov. 11.
In addition, a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter was used Friday to conduct an aerial search.
The Red Lake River was searched Thursday. The Pennington County Dive Team investigated an area about halfway between the Third Street bridge and the Eighth Street bridge. The appearance of several unusual spots on the river led the team to conduct a search and rescue operation. Afterward, it was determined that the spots were created by geese.
Throughout the four days Knox was missing, Haugen commented that the department had a lot of help from Knox's family members and fellow church members. "We had great cooperation from the family and the church," he said.
Knox's father, brother and one of his sisters were among those looking for Knox. The Iowa residents arrived in Thief River Falls Nov. 12. Knox's mother and other sister remained in Iowa.
Haugen added that the department appreciated the help the community provided in finding the Iowa native.
Knox's family and friends also valued the time law enforcement and the community spent attempting to locate Knox.
"Law enforcement has been doing a good job in trying to find him," said Josh Kinsman, one of Knox's close friends, before Knox was found.
Knox had been reported missing after he had failed to arrive at work the evening of Nov. 11. The next morning, his employer, Canadian Pacific Rail, alerted the Thief River Falls Police Department.
Investigator Tim Miller commented that Knox's employer had noted that it was unusual for Knox to fail to show up for work. In fact, Miller noted, Knox was a conscientious employee who usually showed up for work 20 minutes early.
The last time anyone had heard from Knox was around 7 p.m. Nov. 11. At that time, he had received a phone call from the Minneapolis dispatch office of CP Rail. According to a police report, the dispatcher had called Knox to ask him to report to work in two hours, and Knox had accepted the call.
After being notified that Knox was missing, police officers went to his residence. Knox's vehicle was found parked in his garage, but a black duffle bag in which he usually carried work clothes was missing.
According to Knox's younger brother, Knox moved to Thief River Falls in October 2002. Prior to that time, he had lived for a short time in New York City. Kidron Knox commented that his brother liked this area after doing some witnessing work for his church here.
About 40 people searched a wooded area near Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for Jordan John Knox on Friday. Two days later, Knox's body was found in Rocksbury Township. In all, over 100 people joined in the search.
