BEMIDJI — The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office searched a property as part of a decades-old missing person investigation.
Three-year-old Kevin Ayotte disappeared from his family's cabin about 20 miles north of Cass Lake and east of Bemidji in September 1982.
Kevin was deaf and nonverbal. He and his brother were playing upstairs when their mom stepped out of the cabin for a brief moment. When she returned, Kevin was gone.
Sheriff Jason Riggs said his office recently searched a property in Sugarbush Township near the family's cabin. Riggs told WDAY that the search was prompted by a tip from a family member a few months ago.
Riggs would not clarify whose family submitted the tip but said "an individual of interest at one point in this investigation lived on this property, and no longer does, but family members do."
No additional details have been released so as to not compromise the investigation.
Late October marked the anniversaries of missing Bemidji teens Neveah Kingbird and Jeremy Jourdain. Neveah disappeared 5 years ago, and Jeremy has been missing for 10.
Law enforcement often reminds the public of missing persons cases around deer opener, in the hope that hunters will keep their eyes open as they head into the woods.
The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office is highlighting two cases in their appeal to hunters. Russell Coyle was last seen at his home north of Kelliher in April 2025. Coyle was 68 at the time and is 5 foot 7 and roughly 200 pounds, and white with blue eyes.
Corey Bryant's last known location was in Bemidji in December. He was 31 at the time and is white with blue eyes, 5 foot 11 and roughly 200 pounds.
Anyone with information in any missing persons cases should contact law enforcement.
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