Hancock man found dead in Portage Canal
The body of a thirty-three-year-old Hancock man who had been reported missing was found near a boat house in the Portage Canal last night.
The Hancock Police Department received a missing person report from the family of Jason Mikkola on Tuesday. Jason’s family and friends said he had been boating with friends on Sunday on the Portage Canal and was last seen on Monday around 1:00 a.m. Jason’s family found the boat he had been operating in their boat house located on the Hancock side of the Portage Canal.
After investigating the situation, police believe Jason may have fell into the canal as he was attempting to get off the boat. A local dive team of Lundy Castro and Jerry Lutz were requested to search the waters near the boat house. Jason’s body was then located near the boat house in the Portage Canal around 6:35 p.m.
The Houghton County medical examiner responded to the scene and transported Jason to Portage Health in a Mercy Ambulance. An autopsy will be performed sometime this week. At this time no foul play is expected.
The Hancock Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Houghton County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Coast Guard.