Unidentified Body Found Floating in Verde River

Yavapai County sheriff's deputies found the unidentified body of a man floating in the Verde River Saturday night, and authorities are asking for the public's help in figuring out who he is.About 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Yavapai County sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a man's body floating in the...

By James King

March 21, 2011

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Yavapai County sheriff's deputies found the unidentified body of a man floating in the Verde River Saturday night, and authorities are asking for the public's help in figuring out who he is.

About 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Yavapai County sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a man's body floating in the river near the1300 block of Kelli Lane in Bridgeport.

An autopsy completed Sunday indicates the man died of an accidental drowning, but police have no idea who he is.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, the man appears to be Native American. They say he's in his 20's and about six feet tall.

Police say the man had an untreated and recently broken right tibia, which may have caused him to walk with a limp shortly before he was last seen.

Authorities say the unidentified man has tattoos on his body authorities hope will help identify him. They say they will release more information about the tattoos as the investigation progresses.

Meanwhile, if you happen to know a 20-something Native American with tattoos -- who may have walked with a limp -- and you haven't seen him since at least Saturday, please call the YCSO at 928-771-3260 or Yavapai Silent Witness at 1800-932-3232.

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