Current:Home > MyOfficials searching for a missing diver in Florida recover another body instead -MoneyMatrix
Officials searching for a missing diver in Florida recover another body instead
View
Date:2025-04-17 21:26:42
The search for a missing diver in southeast Florida took a surprise turn this week when officials reported they recovered another person's body during the underwater probe.
According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, Virgil Price, 39, vanished on Sunday, but on Monday search teams found someone else's corpse.
On Wednesday, the sheriff's office said it was unaware of any other missing person reports matching the description of the male pulled from the water Monday about 16 miles Northeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
The area where the agency's Marine Unit assisted the U.S. Coast Guard recovering the unidentified body, is about 60 miles north of West Palm Beach.
Backyard death:5-year-old Colorado girl dies after being strangled by swing set in backyard
Description of body recovered from water near Fort Pierce Inlet
Officials were working to identify the victim, described as a white male weighing 200 to 225 pounds who appears to be older than age 50.
"His clothing and physical characteristics do not match those of the missing diver from Sunday," the agency posted on Facebook.
Airman fatally shot returned to Georgia:Body of US airman fatally shot by Florida deputy returned home ahead of funeral
Officials: Recovered body was likely not in water that long
The U.S. Coast Guard is leading the investigation, and they’re working with the medical examiner to determine cause and approximate time of death for the victim found on Monday.
The body does not appear to have been in the water for an extended period of time, according to the sheriff's office.
Diver reported missing over the weekend
On Monday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard officials suspended the search for Price, who was free diving Sunday about 13 miles southeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet before he disappeared, TCPalm, part of the USA TODAY Network reported.
Price failed to resurface while free diving the Halsey shipwreck, officials said.
Free diving, also called skin diving, relies on breath-holding until resurfacing.
Price is a "team member" at Florida Freedivers, a sporting goods store in North Palm Beach, according to a social media post by the store. He appears to be an instructor there.
"With a heavy heart, we must share that after 36 hours and covering 1400 miles, the Coast Guard has suspended their search for Virgil," the store posted on Facebook Tuesday night. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our brother and all those affected by this tragedy."
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (271)
Related
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Marlon Wayans requests dismissal of airport citation, says he was discriminated against
- Popeyes Cajun-style turkey available to preorder for Thanksgiving dinner
- Deputies find 5-year-old twins dead after recovering body of mother who had jumped from bridge
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Florida man found guilty of killing wife over her refusal to go on home renovation show
- How a hidden past, a name change and GPS led to Katrina Smith's killer
- Travis Kelce wears Iowa State mascot headgear after losing bet with Chiefs' Brad Gee
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Judge temporarily halts Trump's limited gag order in election interference case
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- Megan Thee Stallion and former record label 1501 Entertainment settle 3-year legal battle
- Australia decides against canceling Chinese company’s lease of strategically important port
- Citigroup fires employee for antisemitic social media post
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Schools across U.S. join growing no-phone movement to boost focus, mental health
- Affordable Care Act provisions codified under Michigan law by Gov. Whitmer as a hedge against repeal
- Russian-American journalist detained in Russia, the second such move there this year
Recommendation
Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
Fantasy Fest kicks off in Key West with 10 days of masquerades, parties and costume competitions
'Best hitter in the world': Yordan Alvarez dominating October as Astros near another World Series
Illinois government employee fired after posting antisemitic comments on social media
DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
A Palestinian engineer who returned to Gaza City after fleeing south is killed in an airstrike
Illinois government employee fired after posting antisemitic comments on social media
The UAW's decade-long fight to form a union at VW's Chattanooga plant