photo courtesy of Morgan County Sheriff’s Office
UPDATE: Authorities have identified the body found on Monday in the Tennessee river as that of 56-year-old Bruce Parker. Coroner Jeff Chun identified the body on Tuesday and according to officials with an autopsy is pending.
MORGAN COUNTY-On Monday, July 5 the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a body being found in the river near Johnson Landing in Valhermoso Springs. The call was reported by a kayaker around 11 AM.
The kayaker reported seeing a body floating in the water. Deputies and the marine unit responded finding the body of an unidentified white male some 300 yards from Johnson Landing. The body was recovered brought to shore onto a private dock near Johnson Landing. According to Mike Swafford with the Sheriff’s Office it was too early to say how long the body had been in the water or the cause of death.
According to authorities the coroner is working to identify the body and the time of death. Until identification authorities will try to piece together what happened and how the body ended up in the water without a flotation device.
The body will be sent to forensics to determine the cause of death. Swafford said they will be checking with cities as far up river as Chattanooga to see if their are any missing persons. Authorities say this investigation will remain an active death investigation until what happen has been determined.
