Illinois man drowns in Lake Vermilion in Minnesota

LAKE VERMILION, Minn., -- Authorities say a 67-year-old Illinois man has drowned on Lake Vermilion in northeastern Minnesota.

The St. Louis County rescue squad found James Knott, of Mascoutah dead and floating in the water on the west end of Lake Vermilion around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The sheriff's office says it was called to the scene around 6 p.m. after a Department of Natural Resources officer found an empty boat in the lake. Knott was not wearing a life jacket when his body was found.

The incident remains under investigation.