Investigators ask for public help after body found in Eagle River

Authorities are asking for public help from anyone who may have information about the identity of a body found west of Squaw Creek in the Eagle River on Friday.

Foul play has not been ruled out, people who have filed missing person reports are being contacted and investigators are working to determine both the identity and the gender of the body, which may have been in the river “for a while,” according to the Vail Daily.

An autopsy is being conducted by the Eagle County coroner.

Here’s a press release from the Eagle County Sheriff’s Department:

Late Friday afternoon, July 26, 2019, a report of a body pinned on rocks in the Eagle River was received around 3:45 p.m.  A full rescue operation was immediately called to the Eagle River about a ½ mile west of Squaw Creek Road between Edwards and Wolcott. In a massive cooperative effort, our partner agencies worked together to safely recover the body of an unidentified person.

Multiple agencies were involved in the retrieval of the body including the Eagle River Fire Protection District, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, Eagle County Paramedics, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Vail Public Safety Communications Center.

Ongoing efforts to positively identify the body and determine a cause of death are being led by Detectives with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and the Coroner’s Office. Foul play has not been ruled out at this time.  We would like to assure the community that there is no ongoing threat and thank those who may have been concerned by the rescue activities for their understanding and patience while we investigate.

If you think you may have any information about this incident, please call the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office at (970) 328-8500 or Eagle County Crime Stoppers at 970-328-7007, 1-800-972-TIPS, submit your tip online at www.tipsubmit.com, or text a tip from your cell phone by texting STOPCRIME plus your message to CRIMES (274637).  If your tip leads to the arrest and indictment of any suspect involved, you could earn up to a $1,000 reward from the Crime Stoppers.

Persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.