Body of teen male recovered from Spirit Lake

The body of a teenage Spirit Lake boy was recovered from Spirit Lake on Sunday afternoon.

The partially-submerged body of Luke Anana-Kuewa, 18, was discovered in a small cove in the north end of the lake about 11:45 a.m. by people walking along the shoreline, according to a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office press release. They called 9-1-1.

Family members were able to positively identify the teen through photographs taken by investigators at the scene, the release said.

"Marine deputies and divers were somewhat hindered getting to the body by unsafe ice in the small cove where it was located," the release said.

An autopsy will take place in the next few days to determine the exact cause of death.

The investigation continues.

The Sheriff's office reminds folks that lake ice is very unstable this time of year and should not be trusted to support the weight of a person or animal. Additionally, the very cold water will cause persons in the water to be overcome by hypothermia in just minutes.