The body of missing University of Minnesota-Morris freshman Laura Schwendemann may have been found, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

 

A farmer reported to police that he discovered what he believed to be human remains in Orange Township near Alexandria, Minn., Douglas County Sheriff Troy Wolberson said.

 

Deputies responded and confirmed the remains were the body of a female between late teens to early 20s, according to another Sheriff’s office release.

 

“Because of the circumstances, we believe it could be her, but there has not been a positive ID,” Wolberson said.

 

He said police are pursuing leads in the open case.

 

Official identification is pending an autopsy from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office in Anoka, Minn.

 

In a campus-wide email, Morris campus Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Sandra Olson-Loy wrote that the school extends its sympathies to Schwendemann’s family.

 

The management freshman went missing earlier this month. Police are waiting to interview persons of interest until they receive positive identification, Wolberson said.