Body found near Cloquet may be that of missing Floodwood woman

Laurie Snaza said her worst fears arrived at her Floodwood home Thursday night when police informed her that the body of her missing daughter had likely been found on a rural road outside of Cloquet earlier Thursday.

The Cloquet Police Department reported that a body was found on a property off Reservation Road outside of Cloquet about 5 p.m. Thursday but did not confirm officially that it was Cristyna Watson, who was last seen Sept. 8. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death as suspicious and said they were working on the case with cooperation from the Floodwood Police Department.

Snaza was overcome with emotion Thursday night after nearly a month of worry about her daughter, but tried to hold to positive memories.

“Just remember her smile and her laugh,” she said.

The body was taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office in St. Paul for an autopsy and formal identification.

The police department said in a news release the discovery was part of an ongoing missing person’s case but gave no other details. It plans to hold a news conference this afternoon.

The department had been working with several agencies in the region and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the search for Watson.

Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande would not confirm Thursday night that the body found was that of Watson.

Police said several individuals have been questioned in connection with the discovery Thursday. No charges have been filed.

The investigation included police from the Floodwood and Fond du Lac departments and members of the Carlton and St. Louis County sheriff’s offices.

A statewide alert was issued Wednesday regarding the Watson case and activity soared on a Facebook page Snaza created to aid in the search.

Snaza wrote about the news of her daughter on the page late Thursday and comments turned from hope of finding her to condolences for her loss.

“Heartbreaking,” one comment said. “She was a sweetheart. Thoughts go out to her family. May justice come swift. She will be missed.”

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