PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis
 

Bound Bodies That Washed Ashore Puzzling

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (June 20) - The discovery of three bodies lashed together on the shore of Lake Michigan baffled officials who had no reports of missing people or any word of a boat in distress.

Officials said they did not suspect foul play in the deaths of the man and two children found Saturday, tied at the waist with nylon rope.

''If you were in a boating accident, the adult would tie the children to the adult, so they would not get away from the adult,'' said Pleasant Prairie Fire Chief Paul Guilbert Jr.

The three were fully clothed but not wearing life jackets, said Anthony Riley, petty officer with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Officials said the bodies had been in the water at least several days, and their identities and the gender of the children were not known.

There were no reports of missing boats on Lake Michigan in the past three weeks, and a Coast Guard helicopter sent out Saturday to scan the water found nothing, Riley said.

By Saturday evening, adults and children were milling around the beach in Pleasant Prairie, just north of the Illinois state line.

Donna Van Besien, 16, said she used to swim in the lake but now has second thoughts.

''I think it's creepy,'' she said.


AP-NY-06-20-04 0958EDT

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press

Re: PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis
 

They have been identified by the estranged mother. The father picked up the 2 sons in May and they were never seen again. Family from Chicago. Coast Guard reported fully clothed, no trauma, and kids had backpacks and their pockets filled with a total of 48 pounds of sand.

Re: PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis
 

I'll believe that. You have seen it all. You'll get a nice pension for your efforts when its all done. What MM is the one you are moving too?????

Re: PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis
 

I figured you would plant yourself at LOTO when you pull the plug.