DSP News Release: Body of Bridge Jumper Located

Location: St. Jones River beneath the Barkers landing Bridge, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence:  Tuesday, December 06, 2011 at 9:45 a.m.

Victim:  

• 19 year old Felton, DE man

Resume: 

Dover, DE- The body of a male victim who was observed jumping into the St. Jones River in November has been located.

At approximately 9:45 a.m. this morning the body of a male victim was found floating in the St. Jones River under the Barkers Landing Bridge south of Dover by fire department personnel. The subject was identified as a 19 year old Felton, DE man who had jumped from the bridge on Sunday, November 20. Troopers had been called to the bridge at approximately 9:06 a.m. for the report of a suspicious person who had been observed sitting on the side of the bridge. Troopers made contact with the male victim who threatened to jump. The victim then proceeded to jump from the bridge and fell into the Saint Jones River.  Troopers initially observed the victim floating above the water for a short period of time and then submerged.

The investigation into this incident is continuing, however, foul play is not suspected.

Released Tuesday, December 06, 2011 at 9:00 p.m.

Original release below

DSP News Release: Barkers Landing Bridge Jumper Search and Investigation   

Location: 

• Barkers Landing Bridge, Bay Road, Dover, DE

Date of Occurrence:

·         Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 9:06 a.m.

Victim:

·         Unidentified male

Resume:

Dover-The Delaware State Police are investigating an incident where an unidentified man jumped from the Barkers Landing Bridge, earlier this morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:06 a.m. this morning when Troopers responded to Bay Road southbound on the Barkers Landing Bridge for a male subject that was observed sitting on the side of the bridge by passing motorists.  Troopers responded to the bridge and made contact with the male victim who threatened to jump from the bridge.  The victim then proceeded to jump from the bridge and fell to the Saint Jones River.  Troopers initially observed the victim floating above the water for a short period of time and then submerged.

An initial search and rescue operation (SAR) was launched with numerous agencies to include the Delaware State Police Aviation Helicopter Trooper 4, Delaware State Police SCUBA Team, rescue boats from Volunteer Fire Companies and DNREC.

After an extensive search by land, air, and water, the victim was not located, and the SAR operation was terminated at approximately 3:00 p.m.   

Search and recovery operations are scheduled to resume tomorrow morning (Monday, November 21, 2011)

Released: 112011 1830