Bodies Of Missing North Dakota Students Found Submerged In Lake

Dickinson, ND (AHN) - The bodies of three North Dakota college students missing since Sunday were found on Tuesday. Police discovered the remains in a vehicle submerged in a pond near their school.

Investigators made the discovery after a search team found tire tracks leading to a stock pond for cattle five miles northwest of Dickinson, North Dakota. Submerged in the lake but hidden beneath grass police found the white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California tags the women were traveling in.

Police used cellphone "pings" which are signals sent between cellphones and communication towers in an effort to narrow the area where they needed to search. Police also conducted ground and air searches for the missing women.

In the vehicle were the bodies of Dickinson State University softball players -- Kyrstin Gemar, 22, a senior who owned the car; Afton Williamson, 20, a junior; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, a senior. The young women were last seen about 10:45 p.m. Sunday.

According to published reports teammates of the women received two distress calls at 11:18 p.m. and 11:19 p.m.. During the "very scratchy" calls teammates heard the women mention water and lake.