The man who left his shoes on a bridge near Energy Park Drive before apparently jumping to his death has been identified. He was John Hesdra, 35, of St. Paul.
A roommate, John Burlingame, 43, told police late Monday that he hadn't seen Hesdra for a week. He went into Hesdra's room and found a suicide note. The victim's family lives in Illinois and has been notified.
Hesdra was found July 6 by bicyclist Susan Lee, 24, who noticed his shoes on the bridge. She called police immediately and remained with the body until they arrived. She took a powerful photo of the shoes, which pointed toward the ground below. Hesdra remained unidentified for a week; police had been planning to release a sketch today before the identify was revealed.
"There's still a lot we don't know," said Police Sgt. Paul Schnell, "but a story like this causes people to feel something. That picture was incredible."
GAIL ROSENBLUM
