The family of a Monticello man missing for several days thanked volunteers for their search efforts Thursday at a news conference in Otsego, hours after searchers found a man's body in the Mississippi River nearby.

While the body found Thursday has not been positively identified by the medical examiner, the family ended the search, indicating that they believe the body is that of 23-year-old Joseph Brunn.

Brunn was last seen after 2 a.m. Saturday walking from the Boondox Bar and Grille and near the Otsego Holiday Inn, located at 9200 Quaday Av. NE. Volunteers and authorities had been searching for him since.

The Wright County Sheriff's Office removed the body from the river, about 300 yards south of the Hwy. 101 bridge, at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy and positive identification.

More than 4,600 volunteers took part in the search. Volunteers used horses, ATVs and search dogs.

United Legacy, a nonprofit dedicated to finding missing persons, helped the Brunn family and volunteers in the search. Co-Founder of United Legacy Deanna Villella started the organization after her brother, Christopher Rossing, went missing in 2014.

Colleen Kelly, Star Tribune
Joseph Brunn

Villella said the Brunn family is relieved to have closure. "We were hoping and praying for a better outcome," she said.

BEATRICE DUPUY