The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

The University of Chicago’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1892

Chicago Maroon

Body found off 59th Street Point

The body of 22-year-old Lanisha Miller was found floating in Lake Michigan on Wednesday afternoon near the 5900 block of South Lake Shore Drive.

A spokesperson in the office of the Cook County medical examiner said the woman drowned.

Detectives with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) are investigating whether her death was the result of an accident, suicide, or homicide.

“How did she get in the water, that’s the question,” the spokesperson said. “It’s unclear.”

Officers from the CPD, the Marine Unit, and the Chicago Fire Department arrived at the lakefront near the Museum of Science and Industry after a fisherman called to report the floating body around 3 p.m.

Divers entered the lake to retrieve the body, which was clothed, as a helicopter circled overhead.

The woman was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. at the Stein Institute of Forensic Medicine.

An autopsy Thursday did not discover any outer signs of physical trauma, though detectives are investigating whether foul play was involved.

“It certainly doesn’t rule that possibility out,” the spokesperson said.

Fourth-year in the College Christopher Casebeer said he went to the scene and took pictures after seeing emergency personnel from his room window in the Shoreland Hall.

He said police officers allowed civilians to come near the scene.

“They were even letting people get close to the vehicles,” he said. “Mostly passersby stopping to take a look and then moving on.”

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