Woman dies after being found unresponsive in Beltrami County lake

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect identity of victim on July 10, 2026.

CASS LAKE — A woman died Monday, July 6, after she was pulled from a lake north of Cass Lake by a bystander and a tribal police officer.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office reported it received a 911 call at 4:05 p.m. of someone who appeared to be unresponsive near the Mission Road Bridge on Lake Andrusia. The location of the incident is an area commonly used as a swimming beach, and the woman was reportedly swimming at the time.

Beltrami County deputies, Leech Lake Tribal Police officers and Leech Lake ambulance responded to the scene. One of the tribal police officers and a bystander retrieved the woman from water and began lifesaving efforts, the sheriff's office reported. The victim was transported to an area hospital where lifesaving efforts continued, but she was ultimately pronounced dead.

The body was transported to a funeral home for an autopsy. The woman was later identified as Danielle Montana Rushman, 26, of Cass Lake.

This is the second fatal incident on a lake in Beltrami County within four days. The body of a man was recovered Friday, from Movil Lake after he reportedly entered the water from a boat and never resurfaced.