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Body found on Indiana golf course identified as MSU student
January 13, 2008
CHESTERTON, Ind. — A woman's body found on the grounds of a northern Indiana golf course has been identified as that of a 20-year-old Michigan State University student.
The body of Rylan Cotter of Okemos, Mich., was found fully clothed Wednesday afternoon by workers at the Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton, about 15 miles east of Gary.
Detective Lt. David Cincoski of Chesterton Police said positive identification was made late Friday morning when he showed a photograph of the body to her parents in Michigan.
Porter County Coroner Victoria Deppe has ruled that Cotter died from massive blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen. But she said the manner of Cotter's death — whether it was a homicide, suicide or accident — remains unknown and tests are pending.
"It's going to take several weeks to determine the manner of death," Deppe said.
When golf club employees found the body, they found no signs of foul play. Deppe said Cotter's internal organs sustained "a lot of trauma."
Officials said it appears the body had been at the golf course for 36 hours or less.
Deppe said the registration of an abandoned car with Michigan plates found in a park's parking lot about a half mile away from Cotter's body was traced to a Michigan home, and Cotter's family soon confirmed the body's identity.
Cincoski said Cotter's parents "have no clue whatsoever" why she would have visited Chesterton or the golf course.
Police are trying to determine who Cotter was with and what she did during the last few days of her life. Authorities said she spent the night Monday in Benton Harbor, Michigan
