Woman killed in grain elevator fall identified

Updated: 8:00 p.m. | Posted: 4:37 p.m.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified a woman who died after a fall in a Minneapolis grain elevator Saturday.

Emily Roland, 20, of Cottage Grove died from multiple blunt-force injuries. University of Minnesota spokesperson Joe Koktan said Roland was a sophomore enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts.

The Minneapolis Fire Department said Roland was in the abandoned grain Bunge elevator in the Como neighborhood of the city when she fell nearly three stories inside the building.

Paul Williams, president of Project for Pride in Living, a non-profit housing developer that bought the elevator in 2006, said addressing security at the Bunge grain elevator is a top priority, something his organization has always taken seriously.

"We've welded some of those doors and windows shut. We've had different coverings over. We've had a fence that's been up that continually gets pulled down or gets cut. We have our own security that four to five times a week actually checks in," he said. "It's an ongoing challenge, and we've been really diligent about it."

In 2006, before Project for Pride in Living bought the elevator, another person died at the site from a similar fall.

Williams said the nonprofit would consider demolishing the grain elevator.

Minneapolis Fire Deputy Chief Todd White said while the structure is standing empty, it will be difficult to keep people out.

"No matter what the owner does, or whoever has it, outside of 24 hour security, they're a curious object to children, young adults, transients," White said. "They get inside and don't realize the dangers and perils."