On January 30, 2023 our office received a report of death from the State Forensic Medical Examiner regarding the death of missing person Ashlan Garcia last May of 2022. The cause and manner of death was determined to be accidental drowning.
First Press Release
On May 27th, 2022, the Ward County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Minot Police Department, Minot Fire Department and Trinity First Response, responded to the Souris river on the southeast edge of Minot in regards to a body that was found floating in the water by people kayaking.
The Minot Fire Department recovered the body from the river. The release of the name of the individual is pending notification of next of kin and the circumstances of the death are still under investigation. No foul play is suspected at this time.
Update June 3, 2022
The body recovered from the river on May 27th, 2022, was positively identified as 20 year old missing person Ashlan Garcia. The cause of death is still under investigation by the North Dakota Medical Examiner’s Office. Again, no foul play is suspected at this time.
Sheriff Robert Roed
Ward County Sheriff’s Department
