The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Police: 3 ND college students found dead in pond

In this undated photo, Dickinson State University's Ashley Neufeld runs the bases during a softball game in Dickinson, N.D. Neufeld is one of three DSU students who were reported missing Monday, Nov 2, 2009. Neufled, 21, along with DSU softball players Kyrstin Gemar and Afton Williamson were reported missing Monday. Law enforcement officials are searching the area around Dickinson, N.D., for the women. (AP Photo/The Dickinson Press, Dustin Monke)

ENLARGE PHOTO

In this undated photo taken from the Dickinson State University athletics department web site, missing student Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba in Canada is shown. (AP Photo/Dickinson State University)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Dickinson State University designated hitter Kyrstin Gemar swings at a pitch during a softball game against Jamestown College on May 3, 2009. Gemar is one of three DSU students who were reported missing Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. Gemar and DSU softball players Ashley Neufeld and Afton Williamson were reported missing Monday. Law enforcement officials are searching the area around Dickinson, N.D., for the women. (AP Photo/The Dickinson Press, Dustin Monke)

ENLARGE PHOTO

In this undated photo taken from the Dickinson State University athletics department web site, missing student Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont,Calif., is shown. (AP Photo/Dickinson State University)

ENLARGE PHOTO

Prepare a Black Friday game plan
11/22/09
Not in class? See you in court
11/22/09
First week's food drive donations set record
11/22/09
Doctors differ over weight loss surgery procedures
11/22/09
Ohio 10th fattest state, according to obesity report
11/22/09
> More headlines

By BLAKE NICHOLSON, The Associated Press Updated 8:26 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009

DICKINSON, N.D. — Three missing North Dakota college softball players were found dead Tuesday in a Jeep that was pulled from a pond two days after the women disappeared.

Police Lt. Rod Banyai said police are "still investigating" the cause of the deaths and autopsies are planned. Banyai said he believes the women were in the vehicle when they made two cell phone calls to friends for help, but he didn't know whether it already was under water when those calls were made.

Authorities had been searching since Sunday night for Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of San Diego; Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba.

The Dickinson State University students were believed to be in the white 1997 Jeep Cherokee with California plates when they were last heard from in the calls made to two friends on cell phones before lines went dead. Police described the first as a "very scratchy" call for help in which one of the women said they were near a lake and water.

Banyai said the pond is about 12 feet deep on a farm northwest of Dickinson. He said searchers found vehicle tracks leading into the pond Tuesday afternoon, and searchers in an airplane flying over the site saw oil on top of the water.

The submerged vehicle was pulled from the pond about two hours later, police said.

Banyai said the vehicle will be checked for defects. He said authorities don't know how it got into the pond.

A prayer service was scheduled Tuesday night on campus.

___

November 04, 2009 01:19 AM EST

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

I am so sorry to here of this tragic news my daughter was a freind of afton williamson from her home town of lake elsinore ca. They attended paloma valley high in menifee ca. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these very special angels.

michelle
8:53 PM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

dad should be more concerned... he sounds like a suspect to me..

?
1:32 PM, 11/3/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.