Two charged in Kossuth County dragging death

The Kossuth County sheriff’s department has arrested two teens in the death of 18-year-old A-J Preston of Ringsted, whose body was found January first at the end of a long farm driveway. County Sheriff Kevin Van Otterloo says 18-year-old Nick Symonds of Burt and 17-year-old Delaine Pederson of Burt are charged with leaving the scene of an accident and vehicular homicide. County Attorney Todd Holmes explains that charge reflects an unintentional death caused by someone in a motor vehicle. He says in this case the charge reflects operating while intoxicated. Symonds is being held in the Kossuth County jail on 37-thousand dollars bond. Holmes says he’ll ask for Pederson’s case to be moved to adult court since he turns 18 in May. Sheriff Kevin Van Otterloo says there was a New Year’s Eve party taking place at the farmhouse, and Preston was dragged by the car a considerable distance. There’s a lot of speculation on the distance, which the sheriff will estimate at more than 900 feet. Van Otterloo’s not saying who may have been driving the car.