On November 26, 2023, the search for a 57-year-old White/Caucasian male, Brad Nagel, came to a tragic end near his home in Red Wing, Minnesota. Nagel, an avid outdoorsman, had been reported missing on November 15, 2023, after his family lost contact with him late at night. Concern grew when he failed to show up for a work commitment the following day.
The last known sighting of him was from surveillance footage showing him walking alone in Red Wing on the morning of November 16.
The search for Nagel spanned ten days and involved numerous volunteers and law enforcement agencies, covering areas in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. A significant development occurred on November 19, when his pickup truck was discovered submerged in a Mississippi River backwater channel on the Wisconsin side of the river. This discovery focused search efforts in that area, but ultimately, he was not found there.
The search concluded on the afternoon of November 26, when Nagel's body was discovered on his own rural property in Red Wing. His remains were located down a steep embankment. The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office later announced that he had died from a single self-inflicted wound.
Authorities have stated that they do not suspect any foul play in his death, and consequently, there have been no arrests made, nor are there any suspects in the case. The official cause of death was ruled a suicide. The community was left to mourn the loss of a man known for his love of the outdoors and his work as a youth field instructor. His family expressed their gratitude to all the volunteers and agencies who had assisted in the extensive search.
