STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Accidental drowning is believed to be the cause of death of a Stoughton man whose body was located Sept. 2 in Big Sand Lake in Vilas County.

The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office has released information that Eric Reese, 48, was located by a Department of Natural Resources warden at 6:50 a.m. Sept. 2. A 911 call Aug. 29 reported an empty fishing boat on the east shore of the 1,408-acre Big Sand Lake in Phelps, with its running lights on and motor running. The owner of the boat was fishing on that lake Aug. 27.

According to the sheriff’s office, an autopsy will be performed this week.