Charleston police are investigating the discovery of a man’s body found in the Kanawha River on Sunday afternoon, according to local authorities. The grim discovery was made by two walkers near Patrick Street at approximately 1 p.m., prompting an immediate response from law enforcement and emergency personnel to the riverbank just east of the Patrick Street Bridge.
As investigators work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident, officials have stated that foul play is not suspected at this time. The body, which was located only a few feet off the bank, has been transported to the state Medical Examiner’s Office for formal identification and a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause and manner of death.
The investigation into the Kanawha River body discovery remains active as detectives await further findings from medical examiners.
Investigation Details and Police Response
Emergency responders arrived at the scene along the Kanawha River following reports from the two citizens who spotted the man in the water. According to Lt. Tony Hazelett, speaking on the unfolding situation, investigators are focusing heavily on establishing the identity of the deceased individual to move forward with the inquiry (WV MetroNews).
“The body was in the river, not too far off the bank just east of the Patrick Street Bridge. There’s no indication he was living there or staying there on the river bank. The key is to get some identification on the victim and we can start our investigation from there,” Lt. Hazelett said (WV MetroNews).
Law enforcement officials noted that there were no visible signs of foul play observed at the scene. Furthermore, authorities reported no indication that the male victim had been living nearby or staying on the riverbank, leaving open questions regarding how he entered the water and how long he had been submerged.
Medical Examiner Assessment and Next Steps
The investigation’s trajectory largely depends on the upcoming results from the state Medical Examiner’s Office. Investigators anticipate that once the victim is positively identified and preliminary examination findings are released, a clearer picture of the timeline and circumstances will emerge.
“He added it was unclear how long he had been in the water. The body was only a few feet off the bank when the discovery was made,” according to details provided by local reporting (WV MetroNews).
As the Charleston Police Department awaits the official findings from the state Medical Examiner’s Office, detectives continue to examine the area near the Patrick Street Bridge for any additional clues or witness reports that might assist in clarifying the events leading up to Sunday’s discovery.
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