Divers locate bodies of missing snowmobilers from Lake Charlotte

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Twin Cities media is reporting the recovery of two bodies from Lake Charlotte in Rockford Township, located north of Rockford. According to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, a report was received of an ATV that had gone through the ice on Lake Charlotte near the address of 33 Halsey Av SE Saturday night, Jan. 14, at about 8:55 p.m.

The two victims have been identified as Brad Skafte, a 2009 graduate of Rockford High School, and Adam Patnode, a 2010 graduate of Rockford High School.

The responding deputy was able to determine that a 66-year-old Buffalo man had driven his ATV on to the ice after observing what he thought to be a snowmobile go through the ice. While looking for the snowmobile, the ATV also went through the ice. The man on the ATV was helped out of the water by a neighbor, but the ATV was not recovered.

The Wright County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of the area for the snowmobile with the assistance of the Hanover Fire Department and a helicopter from the Minnesota State Patrol. Searchers were able to locate snowmobile tracks that lead to an area of open water.

During the search, the sheriff’s office was contacted by the families of two young male adults who were missing. The people who were reported missing were believed to be snowmobiling on the lake.

Twin Cities media reported Sunday afternoon that two bodies were recovered from the lake about 1 p.m., using sonar equipment, according to KARE 11.