Woman in her 30s drowns in Iisalmi river, police investigate possible crime
Police are investigating the drowning of a woman in her 30s in the Koljonvirta River in Iisalmi on Saturday, 8 August, after initially treating the incident as an accident. Authorities are now examining whether there are grounds to suspect a crime.
The woman was in a rowboat with a man she knew between 17:00 and 18:00 when she fell into the water. The emergency centre received a report of the incident at 17:44, and rescue divers recovered her body a couple of hours later. Iltalehti reports that the boat was moving in the area between a campsite and a railway bridge at the time of the incident.
Acting Chief Inspector Ulla Heikkilä of the Eastern Finland Police confirmed that the woman and the man in the boat were acquainted. While the police initially launched a cause-of-death investigation, the case is now being treated as involuntary manslaughter. Savon Sanomat (cited in Ilta-Sanomat) reports that the man has been interviewed at least once but has not been taken into custody.
Heikkilä stated that the police are carefully examining the circumstances leading to the woman’s death but declined to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation. She did not comment on whether the individuals were wearing life jackets or if alcohol was involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the movements of the boat or the individuals involved to come forward. Eyewitnesses can contact the Eastern Finland Police tip line at 0295 415 232 or email vihjeet.ita-suomi@poliisi.fi.
