Authorities excavate abandoned well in search for Watertown woman missing since 2001

There are new developments in a nearly 20-year-old missing person case in Watertown.

On December 10th, 2001, Pamela Dunn was reported missing after she failed to show up after work. Watertown Police went to her apartment but could not find her and an investigation began into her disappearance.

At a Wednesday press conference, law enforcement personnel say they received a lead in 2017 that Dunn’s body was in a well in Deuel County. Personnel have gone into the well at an abandoned farm site but were never able to reach the bottom. The site is now being excavated.

In 2006, Dave Asmussen, the former boyfriend of Dunn, was convicted by a Codington County jury of kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison.

The information that Dunn’s body may be in the well came from a resident of Deuel County who knew that Asmussen frequented the area.

Law enforcement says work at the well will continue as long as necessary.

 

November 4, 2020