Missing person found dead in Chehalis River

Updated

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Firefighters responded to a report of a drowning this morning, at Fort Borst Park where police looking for a missing 23-year-old man found the victim floating face down in the Chehalis River along the bank, according to Riverside Fire Authority.

The fire department reports the body was confirmed to be the missing individual who they describe as having an extensive history of autism.

The fire department was on the scene at the Centralia park shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Centralia police reported later the deceased as 26 years old.

Just after 7 o’clock this morning, police were dispatched to a missing person complaint at the the 2000 block of Borst Avenue, according to the Centralia Police Department.

A short time later, an officer located the body of the male in the river, near where it meets with the park’s pond, according to detective Patty Finch.

The department is investigating the details surrounding his death, Finch said.

Exactly who he was with or what he was doing at the park isn’t yet clear, Finch said.

The detective said it was the Centralia man’s mother who reported him missing, but they don’t know if she was with him at the park. Detectives have been trying to locate several people to talk to, she said.

Finch said he is someone she has not met personally, but understands the level of his disorder was such that he was supervised, or should have been supervised, at all times.

His name isn’t being released, but is expected to be released later by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office. Police are hoping an autopsy will be performed on Monday or Tuesday.

The 2000 block of Borst Avenue is the stretch that runs behind the Harrison Avenue Safeway, from Interstate 5 to Johnson Road.

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12 Responses to “Missing person found dead in Chehalis River”

  1. mariah says:

    RIP Jesse. You will be missed sweetie. Your bright smile, and your sweet innocence made so many’s day each and every time they got to see you. I know you left a big smile on mine each and every time! Like Jennifer said, hope there’s Pepsi and all the cigarettes you can smoke up in heaven! Maybe fireworks too! Wouldn’t that be something! Rest In peace sweet man. It was a sad day finding all of this out, and when there is a service, you can count on me being there!

  2. Jennifer Herren says:

    RIP Jesse. I’m sorry that this happened to you honey. I hope they figure out what exactly happened and who is responsible. You should of been being watched at all times. We love and miss you. God has gained a very special angel and I hope he has all the Pepsi and cigarettes you could ever want. 🙂

  3. Bill S says:

    As far as we know, death is a bad thing and we want to avoid it as long as possible. Perhaps there is something wonderful on the other side and perhaps not.

    When someone dies after a long life it’s called a natural death but when a young person dies in an “accident” it is truly a tragedy, especially for the parents. I have a friend that lost his young adult son in an auto accident. The loss was devastating. It has taken him 10 years to get back to a somewhat normal life.

    The doctors accidently stopped my heart during a procedure 15 years ago. No white light – only nothingness for me. Fortunately they paddled me back to this world. On the other hand an older friend once told me of his wonderful after death experience when he had no heartbeat for over 5 minutes.

  4. GuiltyBystander says:

    Atheism has obviously made you a kinder and more tolerant person, Tommy. Unsurprising.

  5. Peace says:

    To those of you who care about others in our community and would like to share messages of hope and peace for this family please flood this site with love and kindness. My prayers are for this family. May God be with them as they walk through this horrible tragedy.

  6. T Orr says:

    May Mr. Tickles bless this family in their time of tragedy.

  7. T Orr says:

    My point was that sending “prayers” doesn’t do anything except make the sender feel better about themselves at the expense of someone else’s misfortune.

    And Mr. Tickles the Sky Daddy doesn’t need spell-correction either, but he speaks to me and says, “Spell checking is A-OK!!!”

    If having faith that Mr. Tickles is more powerful than your “God” makes me a jerk, then I will wear that title with pride.

    Praise Jeebus, Jesus’ uglier but smarter second cousin.

  8. cooter says:

    Prayers to all…. And t orr…. Ur a jerk.

  9. GuiltyBystander says:

    God doesn’t need spellcheck to hear our prayers. He’s more concerned with our hearts than our dictionaries.

  10. BleeBloo says:

    Oh yes, I’m so sure the family will be comforted by excessive pedantry in their time of grief. Or should I say greef.

  11. T. Orr says:

    Try sending proper spelling.

  12. jv79 says:

    Sending prayers to the family and those responders dealing with this tragity.