The search has been called off for a northeast Iowa man who fell into the Mississippi River from a boat last week.Forty-four-year-old Douglas McMurrin and 56-year-old Robin Peterson, both of Sherill, were tossed out of a small boat near Waupeton last Thursday evening as Peterson was maneuvering the boat through the wake of a barge.
Peterson was rescued by the crew of the towboat, but McMurrin could not be found. The Dubuque County Sheriff and Iowa D-N-R conducted a search and drag operation on the river, but have now decided to suspend the search.
The Sheriff has asked the Civil Air Patrol and area boaters to be on the lookout for McMurrin’s body. Meanwhile, Peterson has been charged with boating while intoxicated.