Two Oak-Land Junior High students found dead in park are identified

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School officials at a school in Lake Elmo reached out to students Wednesday after news of the apparent suicide-related death of two ninth grade students.

Oak-Land Junior High administrators informed teachers and students of the deaths on Wednesday and allowed students to meet with counselors if they wished, said Derek Berg, the school’s principal.

School officials also sent out a letter to parents Wednesday morning via email informing them of the news and support services the school is offering to students grieving the loss of their classmates.

“Be aware that your child may experience strong feelings in response to this news and may acquire additional support,” Berg said in the letter.

The school is assembling a crisis team and plans to utilize counselors and school psychologists, as well as community counselors in the coming days to assist students in need, the press release stated.

Listed are resources include:

- Human Services Inc. 651-777-5225

- Family Means 651-439-4840

- Youth Service Bureau 651-439-880

- Centers for Grief, Loss and Transition 651-641-0177

The bodies of the teens, Lisa Marie Grijalva, 15, of Oak Park Heights and a Jacob Z. Campbell, 14, of Lakeland, were discovered in a heavily wooded area inside Humphries Park in Lakeland Tuesday evening, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities received a 911 call just after 7:30 p.m. reporting the discovery of the bodies, a Washington County Sheriff's Office press release stated.

Sheriff's deputies recovered a long-barreled weapon near the body of one of the deceased, the report stated.

The Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate the incident, sheriff's officials said. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner is assisting in the investigation to determine manner and cause of death.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is not looking for others directly related to the investigation, said Sheriff Bill Hutton in a press release.

The scene was contained and there is not a public safety concern to the area, he said.

Oak-Land Junior High is located in Lake Elmo just north of Woodbury, near the Manning Avenue exit off I-94. Lakeland, a small community on the St. Croix River, is located just east of Lake Elmo along I-94.

Stay with www.woodburybulletin.com for more information on this developing story. Last updated: Oct. 13 at 1:35 p.m.

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