Boating Fatality- UPDATED

On July 4, 2015 at approximately 4:15 PM, the Beltrami County deputies responded to a 911 call of a female who was found unresponsive in the water on Cass Lake. Deputies learned that the victim, identified as Brenda Lois Larson, age 50 of Eden Prairie, MN, had been riding in a 17 foot Boston Whaler being driven by Matthew Allen Kinghorn, age 45 of Minnetonka, MN. While underway, Larson, Kinghorn and a four year old were thrown from the boat. The Kinghorn and the child were rescued by fishermen who were passing by. A short time later Larson was recovered from the water, unresponsive and not breathing. Larson was taken to shore by rescuers and was transported by ambulance to the Cass Lake Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators learned Matthew Kinghorn was driving the boat on Cass Lake north east of Cedar Island when the boat hit a wave causing him, his passenger, Brenda Larson and his 4 year old son to be ejected from the boat. Mathew Kinghorn’s wife, Jennifer Lynn Kinghorn, also riding on the boat was not ejected from the boat. Mrs. Kinghorn flagged down some fishermen who were nearby who rescued Mr. Kinghorn and the 4 year old and returned them to their boat. At that time, Mathew Kinghorn started his boat and went to pull Brenda Larson from the water. When he got her into his boat she had stopped breathing. CPR was started on her and she was brought to shore where they were met by the Cass Lake Ambulance. Brenda Larson was transported to Cass Lake Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The four year old was the only occupant wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.

Kinghorn has been arrested and is being held at the Beltrami County Jail. An autopsy has been conducted by the Beltrami County Coroner. This investigation is still very active and results are pending from several tests. The case will be presented to the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office for review when completed.

Deputies were assisted by the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Leech Lake Tribal Police and Leech Lake Ambulance.

No further information will be released at this time.

Sheriff Phil Hodapp