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Dive Teams Search Lake Monona for Missing Swimmer Save Email Print
Reporter: Dana Brueck
Email Address: dbrueck@nbc15.com

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UPDATE Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 -- 5:30 pm
Reported by Dana Brueck.

A beautiful day on Lake Monona takes a heartbreaking turn. Dive teams returned Monday morning to look for a 40-year-old Cottage Grove man who disappeared Sunday while boating with friends.

Lake Monona is familiar territory to the Jensen family.

"We used to come down here all of the time, watch ski shows," Mark Jensen says.

Mark Jensen says his parents live on the lake.

"So it's not a real good view right now."

Their youngest child, Erik, is missing after going boating with friends on Sunday.

"I guess he just jumped in... was swimming, went under... and was never seen again. And I just don't get that. I just don't get it."

The six siblings grew up knowing how to navigate area waters, spending summers on the Wisconsin River.

"My dad took us out when we were kids. He showed us where to be, where not to be."

This is a picture of Erik, at 14, on Lake Monona.

"We know the rivers well... they're very dangerous. That's what surprises me. This is a lake."

Investigators say the depth of the lake where Erik disappeared reaches more than 50-feet down... and visibility -- almost zero.

"The water is calm, but the lakes here aren't necessarily clear," Lt. Jeff Blakley says, "It's just a matter of them bumping into things as opposed to actually being able to see them depending on the water clarity."

Mark Jensen says his brother Erik is the youngest of the family...

"He's hilarious ... just a jokester... "

A family already coping with the recent and sudden loss of a big sister.
"They haven't gotten over Karen's loss. None of us have... hardest part watching our parents grieve."

"It just hasn't been fair for them, hasn't been fair."

Earlier on Sunday, in a separate call, investigators responded to Lake Monona to investigate the death of a 36-year-old man recovered from the water near Law Park. They do not suspect foul play. The sheriff's office asks people to stay clear of the flagged area where divers are searching for Jensen.

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 1:30 p.m.

According to the Dane County Sheriff's Office:

As previously released, at approximately 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 17th, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Marine and Trail Enforcement Unit, and the Dane County Dive Team responded to Lake Monona for a report of a missing swimmer near Law Park.

The swimmer has been identified as Erik J. Jensen, age 40 of Cottage Grove, WI. Jensen was in a boat with three other occupants when he decided to go for a swim and never returned to the boat. Divers searched for Mr. Jensen until approximately 10:00 pm with no success.

The Dane County Dive Team resumed their search of the area at about 9:00 this morning. Divers will continue to go out in shifts throughout the day. The Sheriff’s Office asks that any boaters on Lake Monona stay a safe distance away from area where divers are working to ensure the safety of the divers. Any boaters or persons on shore that see anything unusual in the water are asked to call the Dane County Communications Center at 255-2345.

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 10:50 a.m.

The Dane County Sheriff's office is asking boaters and jet-skiers to avoid the search area - which is about a half mile from north shore of Lake Monona. They're asking boaters to avoid the area for the safety of the search team. The sheriff's office has several divers searching for the missing swimmer.

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POSTED: Sunday, August 17 -- 10:15 pm

**FROM DANE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE**

At approximately 6:00 p.m., on August 17, a caller reported a missing swimmer from a group of two boats on Lake Monona, near Law Park.

A 40-year-old male from Cottage Grove was out with a group of friends when he went for a swim. He never returned to the boats.

Members of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office Marine and Trail Unit and the Dane County Dive Team responded and searched the area the swimmer was last seen.

The search ended at approximately 10:00 p.m. and will begin again Monday morning.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance is continuing and the name of the missing swimmer is being withheld pending notification of relatives.

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