Police ID body found in Zumbro River in SE Minn.

Published 9:26 am Tuesday, November 1, 2011

ROCHESTER — Rochester police have identified the woman found dead in the Zumbro River by a sheriff’s dive team conducting practice.

She was 45-year-old Connie Barta of Rochester.

Autopsy results are pending. Police say a search of the extended stay hotel where Barta lived in downtown Rochester showed no obvious signs of criminal activity.

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Capt. Brian Winters said a search of the river and river bank also found no signs of criminal activity. Winters said Barta was in the water for about 12 hours before her body was found.

An Olmsted County sheriff’s office dive team had just started a routine practice session near a pedestrian bridge when it found the body Sunday morning.