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Body Found In Mississippi River Near Fort Madison

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-896576.mp3

Fort Madison, IA – Fort Madison Police Chief Bruce Niggemeyer says two local fishermen discovered a body at about 10:33 a.m. on Thursday, April 15. They were hauling in lines from the Mississippi River near 20th Street.

Niggemeyer says the body turned out to be Ray Charles Newell Dean, 22, of Keokuk. He says the identification was made because of a photo ID in a billfold.

Dean had been missing since February 7. He reportedly fell through the ice on the Mississippi River just west of Fort Madison's Riverview Park.

Dean's body was recovered just a few blocks away from that spot.

Niggemeyer says an autopsy will be conducted in Keokuk. He says that will determine whether a new investigation is needed.

Niggemeyer says there have been a number of rumors as to how Dean ended up in the Mississippi River. Niggemeyer says an initial investigation, prior to the body being found, yielded no evidence of a crime taking place.

Dean's family has organized and conducted several searches of the Mississippi River in recent weeks. Niggemeyer says he searched the area where the body was found, just a few days ago, but found nothing.