The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

October 26, 2009

Police investigating death in Waterville

BCA called to assist with investigation

By Dan Nienaber

WATERVILLE — Police are investigating the death of a 24-year-old man whose body was found in a downtown Waterville alley early Monday morning.

The initial report about a person lying in an alley south of the Main Street business district was made at 6:30 a.m. Christopher Allen Poehler, who lived in a nearby downtown Waterville apartment, was found dead.

Investigators with the LeSueur County Sheriff’s Department and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were called to assist with the investigation.

Waterville Police Chief Brad Schultz said there were no obvious injuries that would explain the cause of Poehler’s death. The body has been sent to Dakota County for an autopsy, Schultz said.

“We’re trying to find out any information with individuals who would have had contact with him last night,” he said. “At this point were just trying to cover all the bases. We’re not going to know a cause of death until a number of things are complete.”

The BCA investigators are still analyzing evidence gathered at the scene and the autopsy results will provide more information, Schultz said.

Poehler’s body was found in an area where someone would have likely noticed it during the day Sunday, if it had been there, Schultz said. So investigators are focusing on where Poehler was Sunday night.

“In a community this size, we look for assistance with individuals in the public who had contact with him just so we don’t miss anything,” he said. “It’s really hard to go backwards and collect things later, so we’re doing it now.

“Hopefully somebody will come forward with more information that we can work with.”

Anyone with information about where Poehler was Sunday night is being asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 507-357-4440 or the Waterville Police Department at 507-362-4622.

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