ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WKZO) --    A veteran employee at a paper plant near the Michigan-Indiana border has been killed, but it’s not clear if the death was due to an accident or a medical issue.

State Police detectives are investigating the Sunday incident, which occurred at the White Pigeon Paper Company on River Street.  Other workers became concerned because he was missing. A search was organized and he was found dead in the paper pulper just before noon on Sunday.  State Police are interviewing co-workers to determine what he may have been doing near the big vat. An autopsy is planned.

He has only been identified so far as a 61-year-old welder from White Pigeon who reportedly had a history of heart problems.  He had worked at the cardboard manufacturing facility for some time.  Work for the day was cancelled and the plant’s staff sent home.