Doctor’s body found ‘partially buried’ in clay near waterfall, Wisconsin sheriff says

Before Dr. Kelsey Musgrove died on her solo hiking trip, authorities believe she had left the trail and observation area of Potato River Falls to get a closer look of the river.

She had reached the Wisconsin waterfall on Saturday, March 26, and let someone know she made it, but that was the last time anyone heard from her, McClatchy News previously reported. Musgrove was reported missing four days later, and her body was found on April 3.

“While walking along the edge of the embankment, it appears that the ground beneath her collapsed, bringing her down the bank along with clay and rocks,” the Iron County Sheriff’s Office shared in an April 6 update.

Her body was then “partially buried in a steep clay bank along the river’s edge,” officials said.

Upon finding the doctor’s body, investigators performed an autopsy and learned she died of traumatic injuries from her fall near the river.

“Death occurred within minutes of the fall,” the sheriff’s office said.

Musgrove was a cardiothoracic surgery fellow with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s Department of Surgery. The three-year fellowship program provides doctors “with the skills and knowledge to begin a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon.”

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Dr. Kelsey Musgrove,” a spokesperson with UW Health told McClatchy News on April 4. “She was recognized by her peers as a great surgeon, an outstanding mentor and an incredibly kind and positive spirit. Our thoughts and condolences are with her friends and family during this difficult time.”

Potato River Falls, in Iron County, is about 285 miles north of Madison.

“Clay banks are always unstable and can be undermined in areas not visible from above,” Sheriff Paul Samardich said in the news release. “When hiking, please stay on marked trails and observation areas. If you choose to hike alone, always make sure someone knows your route of travel and when you plan to return.”

This story was originally published April 7, 2022 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Doctor’s body found ‘partially buried’ in clay near waterfall, Wisconsin sheriff says."