Estherville, IA (northwestiowanow) — Authorities are awaiting test results after a 26-year-old was found dead earlier this month.
The Emmet County Communications Center received a 911 call on September 11th around 8:54 a.m. The call reported a person lying unresponsive on the ground at Fort Defiance State Park.
Deputies with the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded, and the individual was pronounced dead.
The individual was later identified as 26-year-old Cole Lacko.
Lacko was transported to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for an autopsy.
The Sheriff’s Office says there is no danger to the public, and activities at the park can continue as normal.
A cause or manner of death has not yet been determined, and additional testing, including toxicology, has yet to be completed or reported.

