Missing East Ridge High Grad Found Dead In Mississippi River

MINNEAPOLIS, MN —An East Ridge High grad and current student at the University of Minnesota who had been missing since May 8, was found dead Wednesday in the Mississippi River, according to the University of Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The body of 19-year-old Austin Retterath was identified by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office, according to the U of M DPS. The department said an investigation concluded there were no signs of foul play.

On May, 9, The Minnesota Daily student newspaper reported that Retterath had last been seen the day before outside near the Mississippi River at East River Road and East Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, and that a missing person's report had been put out by the U of M DPS.

An obituary posted online by the Thompson Funeral Home said Retterath was on the Dean's List in the U of M College of Science and Engineering and that he had many hobbies, including: playing basketball, cheering on the Packers and Gophers, spending time at the lake with his family and friends and visiting new places.

"Austin has been a blessing to his family and was the ray of sunshine in their lives," the obituary stated. "He will be greatly missed by his friends and family who will strive every day to live the way Austin did, with selflessness, compassion and a strong love for God."