The body of a Mt. Lake graduate missing since Sunday after an incident off the coast of Japan has been located.
According to a Facebook post from his mother, Jessica Blom, the body of Marine Cpl. Eric-John Niss de Jesus was located Wednesday.
“It is with heavy hearts that we received news today confirming that they have found our boy. It is not the the outcome that we wanted so badly but we are still rejoicing in God for finding our Eric Niss and that he is coming home,” Blom posted on Facebook.
Cpl. Niss de Jesus was a 2015 Mt. Lake Public High School graduate and a 2019 University of Minnesota graduate. He enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly before graduating from the U of M. Cpl. Niss de Jesus had been stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
On Sunday, four Marines had become caught in a rip current off the Japanese coast. The other three Marines were able to return safely to shore, while Cpl. Niss de Jesus was not immediately found.
Blom added that the body of Cpl. Niss de Jesus could be back in the United States, possibly as early as Thursday, and that as many family members as possible will be there.
Blom and Cpl. Niss de Jesus’ birth father, Marcos de Jesus, had hoped to travel to Japan to be present for the search efforts, but Marcos de Jesus confirmed that they were not able to travel to Japan due to COVID restrictions.
Cpl. Niss de Jesus is survived by his parents Jessica and Bob Blom, Jesse and Carolyn Karschnik and Marcos and Jennifer de Jesus, sisters Camille and Kaila Blom, and Isabella and Clara de Jesus and brothers Ethan, Eli and Evan Karschnik, Alex Blom and Fernando Barrientos.
