Winona State University Student Brooke Baures Found Dead, Remembered as a Magnetic Personality
ByA 21-year-old student at Winona State University (WSU) was found dead at a local bar and police are now investigating, but did not comment further.
According to KARE 11 in Minneapolis, police were called to WingDam Bar and Saloon in Fountain City, Wis. around 8 p.m. Monday to find Brooke Baures in the kitchen elevator shaft. Fountain City Police Chief Jason Mork confirmed that Baures was an employee at the restaurant and her duties as a waitress would have required her to use the service elevator.
Beyond that, Mork would not comment on the suspected manner of her death.
Amanda Schabacker, manager at the WingDam, told the Winona Daily News that the restaurant was closed Tuesday and would not give any additional comment.
"She was a leader on the team and a talented gymnast," WSU athletic director Eric Schoh said in a statement. "This is a tremendous loss for our community, and we ask that you keep Brooke and her family, friends, coaches and teammates in your thoughts."
In restaurants, the service elevator is often referred to as a "dumbwaiter," though fatal accidents are extremely rare. Establishments that have them train their employees in safe practices in addition to setting up various safeguards.
"A candlelight vigil will be held in Brooke's honor Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Gazebo in the center of the Winona State campus," the school said in its statement. "Students, friends and those wishing to honor Brooke are welcome to attend and pay their respects."
Schoh told the Daily News Baures, a student studying social work, would stop by his office to ask nothing more than how he was doing.
"She was one of those kids who touched a lot of people and who was very well liked," he said. "She was a big part of the gymnastics team, but also the athletic department. She knew athletes across the whole department."