March 7, 1998

03/07/98: Trevor Hoheisel, 27, Chicago, IL

Trevor Hoheisel, 27, a former St. Cloud State student and member of the Army Reserves who was living in Blaine, MN, was last seen leaving a sports bar near his hotel in Chicago, IL. His body was later found in the Chicago River.

Police believe he got turned around with all the tall buildings in the area and ended up on the pier, then accidentally fell into the water while fishing his hotel key card out of his wallet.

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Timeline
Trevor Hoheisel went to Chicago with roommate and longtime friend Brian Erickson to watch the Minnesota Golden Gophers play in the Big Ten basketball tournament. He and Erickson had frequently traveled to Gophers' games and had tickets to see the Gophers play in the Final Four in San Antonio in the upcoming weeks.

Following the Gophers' loss, the two men took a taxi to meet up with several old friends at Dick's Last Resort, a restaurant and sports bar located a block and a half from their downtown hotel--the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.

He was last seen leaving the bar alone at 11:30 p.m., after telling friends he was tired.

According to The Minnesota Daily, "using footage from a surveillance camera located just outside the bar, police detectives have determined that once Hoheisel left the bar, he was uncertain where the hotel was located, because it was surrounded by large buildings of the unfamiliar downtown area.The camera, which rotates 180 degrees, caught a figure that police determined to be Hoheisel standing near a pier overlooking the Chicago River at the time he was reported to have left the bar. He apparently stopped when he realized he was going the wrong way.When the camera returned to the pier, Hoheisel was nowhere to be found. Police believe once he was on the pier, Hoheisel reached in his wallet for his hotel card. Detectives told the family that he must have fumbled with the card in the rainy and slippery night and reached to grab it, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the river."

Hoheisel's body, which was found three days later by Chicago police marine unit divers, came to rest in a small isolated section off the main river just outside the bar where he was last seen. His wallet was found nearby.

The family told The Minnesota Daily that neither they nor the police suspected foul play.

About Trevor
Trevor Hohesiel was the son of Riley and Lynn Hoheisel of Howard Lake, MN. Family and friends describe him as very compassionate, accepting of others and family oriented. He was also an avid sports fan and, according to friend Bill Kinzinger, "a hard competitor" and "a team player." He coached football, loved playing baseball for the Orphans baseball team during the summer, and he and his roommate were avid fans of the Gophers basketball team, frequently following the team to games.

He graduated from Braham High School in 1988 and went off to "St. Cloud State University for three years before enlisting in the Army Reserves, where he excelled within the ranks of military intelligence."

At the time of his disappearance, Trevor Hoheisel worked for W. Houle Construction under the supervision of his cousin, Randy Houle.

Funeral services for Trevor Hoheisel were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 1998 at Church of St. Mary in Waverly, MN with Revs. William Martin and Nicholas Zimmer officiating.

Interment service was at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Pierz, Minn. with the Rev. Ken Brenny officiating.

Sources
http://old.mndaily.com/articles/1998/03/12/6207
http://www.herald-journal.com/archives/1998/stories/trevor.html
http://www.herald-journal.com/obits/1998/hoheisel0398.html

Facts of Interest in this Case
Name/age: Trevor Riley Hoheisel, 27 (from Blaine, MN)
Hometown: Howard Lake, MN (small town with population of 2,000)
Last Residence: Blaine, MN
Birthplace: Cedar, MN
Date of birth: 8/14/70
List of known residences: Cedar, Lanesboro, Moose Lake, Herman, Braham, Howard Lake, St. Cloud and Blaine, MN
College: former St. Cloud State University student
Family: parents Riley and Lynn; stepfather Bob; brother and sister-in-law, Brandon and Jennie
Physical description: no information
Last seen: 03/07/98, Dick's Last Resort Bar (425 E. Illinois Street), 11:00 pm, Chicago, IL
Hotel: Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers (301 East North Water Street)
Recovered: 03/10/98, Chicago River
Cause of death ruling: drowning
Manner of death ruling: accidental
Injuries: No signs of foul play
Blood Alcohol Content: unknown

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