Two Bodies have been discovered in the Ohio River within 14 hours of each other. Boaters discovered the first corpse near the Purple People Bridge on Friday evening, triggering an urgent police investigation. Only a few hours later, on Saturday morning, police were summoned back when a second corpse was discovered near Brent Spence Bridge.
Both bodies are yet unidentified. The investigative responsibilities have been divided between Newport and Cincinnati police, however, both teams are working closely together on these instances.
“Nothing has been ruled out,” Newport Police Capt Kevin Drohan told WLKY News. “We’re still looking at all angles. We approach it as a homicide, and that’s how we begin the inquiry.”
Newport Police also reported that the remains were being autopsied at the coroner’s office “to look for any signs of foul play or any potential internal injuries that can’t be physically seen.”
Newsweek contacted the Campbell County coroner’s office, as well as the Newport and Cincinnati police, seeking further information on the investigations.
The remains were discovered near the Ohio-Kentucky line, thus two separate police agencies are in charge of the investigation.
According to WLWT News, both police departments have hired murder detectives to handle the investigations.
Fingerprints were obtained from the bodies and matched to missing people’s data. The first body is being processed at the Campbell County Coroner’s Office, while the second is at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office. The coroners’ reports have not yet been finalized.
Boone County Water Rescue Sergeant Donny Schuckmann told Local 12 News that they were confident the bodies were dead at least 24 hours before being discovered. “We’re pretty certain they were on the bottom of the river, and with the events going on along the river, the current and turbulence from the boats brought them up to the surface.”
“During the summer months, it appeared that we were diving once a week to collect automobiles that had fallen into the water, drowning victims, and such. This year has been sluggish, but it is now coming up with us.”