Missouri Academy student drowns at Mozingo

PHIL COBB/DAILY FORUM
A Northwest Missouri State University Academy of Science, Mathematics, and Computing student has drowned at Mozingo Lake. Officers identified the victim as Jae Won Lee, 16, of Seoul, South Korea.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville Public Safety and Northwest Missouri State University have confirmed that a student attending the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics, and Computing has drowned at Mozingo Lake, a city-owned reservoir just east of town.

Maryville Public Safety and University Police officers responded at about 8:10 p.m. Monday to a report of a missing student at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park. They received assistance from the Red Oak and Clarinda, Iowa, search and rescue and dive teams.

Officers identified the victim as Jae Won Lee, 16, a first-year student at the Missouri Academy from Seoul, South Korea.

Lee’s body was recovered at about 9:30 p.m.

The death is under investigation by the Nodaway County coroner’s office, Maryville Public Safety and University Police. No foul play is suspected at this time.

The Missouri Academy is a two-year residential, early-college program on the Northwest campus that replaces the junior and senior years of high school.

Northwest is making on-site counseling assistance available to Missouri Academy students and staff.

Other Northwest students needing counseling assistance outside of regular business hours at Wellness Services are encouraged to contact University Police at 660.562.1254.

Faculty and staff should call the University employee assistance program at 800.964.3577.

A county counseling support line also is available to all members of the Northwest community at 888.279.8188.