Mahnomen County, MN-A quiet morning in Mahnomen County turned somber on Friday, July 18, when the life of 40-year-old Lee Edmond Defoe of Waubun, Minnesota, was tragically cut short in a suspected hit-and-run incident south of Mahnomen.
Authorities were dispatched shortly after 6:00 a.m. to the intersection of Highway 59 and 160th Avenue, where a heartbreaking discovery was made: Defoe’s lifeless body lay in a roadside ditch, the apparent victim of a vehicle-pedestrian collision. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched an investigation, quickly locating an abandoned vehicle nearby on 160 Avenue North. A suspect, Zachary John Mehr, 39, of St. Cloud, was later taken into custody. Authorities have yet to confirm the exact sequence of events that led to the fatal crash, but have indicated that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Law enforcement, including the White Earth Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol, are working in tandem to uncover whether impairment, recklessness, or other factors played a role in the incident. The community has been urged to come forward with any information that might help piece together what led to Defoe’s tragic death.
For those who knew him, Lee Edmond Defoe was more than a name in a headline. He was a familiar face, a neighbor, a friend. His roots ran deep in Waubun and the surrounding area, and news of his untimely passing has sent ripples of grief through both Mahnomen and White Earth communities.
“He had a big heart and a quiet strength,” one family friend shared. “This loss has left a hole in so many lives.”
As residents come to terms with the sudden tragedy, many are calling for justice and clarity. The Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office has vowed transparency and promised to keep the public informed as new developments emerge.
In the meantime, candles flicker in vigil, prayers are lifted, and Lee’s family is left to grapple with the devastating reality of his absence. A life taken in an instant, under circumstances still unclear — a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the need for accountability on our roads.
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.
Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of Lee Edmond Defoe. May his memory be honored, and may the truth come to light.
