Body found in river may be missing man
Special to The TimesHOCKINGPORT -After five days of searching, authorities Wednesday believe they have found the body of 20-year-old Jeremy Midcap of Parkersburg, who has been missing since the boat he was in capsized Saturday.
Belpre police Chief Ernest D. Clevenger said a body was found at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday by personnel in a Vienna (W.Va.) Volunteer Fire Department rescue boat across the river from Hockingport. The body was found in the water near the West Virginia banks of the Ohio River, several miles downriver from where the boat capsized in Belpre, he said.
Wood County Coroner Mike St. Clair said the body was sent to Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital for later transport to the medical examiner in Charleston, W.Va., for a scientific identification. St. Clair believes it was Midcap.
Wood County Sheriff's Sgt. D.E. Westfall said the body was that of Midcap.
"This is just an extremely sad happening. Unfortunately, we deal with accidents like this two to four times a year. Life jackets save lives; there's no doubt about that," Clevenger said. "We will have to see what the coroner finds, but as far as I can tell, this was just an unfortunate boating accident."
Midcap has been missing since shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday when an 18- to 19-foot pleasure boat carrying seven passengers capsized midway between the Belpre boat ramp and Blennerhassett Island.
Dave Midcap, 50, of Parkersburg, the father of the missing boater, was pronounced dead Saturday at Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital after being pulled from the water.
The five other passengers were not injured in the accident.
Parkersburg Fire Department, Vienna Volunteer Fire Department and members of units from Belpre, Little Hocking and Pond Creek volunteer fire departments participated in the five-day search.
A cadaver dog from Pond Creek Volunteer Fire Department arrived Tuesday to aid rescue workers. The dog picked up a scent in the water near the area the boat capsized. Divers searched the area Tuesday night but were unable to locate Midcap, officials said.
Another cadaver dog was brought in Wednesday morning from Grafton, W.Va., said Vienna fire Chief Daniel Goodwin. It also picked up a scent in the same area as the first dog, but divers were not called to the scene, he said.
"I'm certainly glad for the family now that it's over. It's really sad, but at least we were able to bring some closure to the family," Goodwin said.
Several family members of Midcap were gathered at Access Park in Belpre when authorities told them the news Wednesday evening.
"We are just really relieved," said Brandy Midcap, sister of Jeremy Midcap.
St. Clair credited volunteers who searched the river to help relieve the family's anxieties.
"They've been out there every day doing this," St. Clair said.
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ProudMom2
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06-25-09 12:00 PM
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My thoughts and prayers are with this family.
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Chicagomom
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06-25-09 10:38 AM
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My heart goes out to this family. May God give you comfort if this time of loss.
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