Crime & Safety

Updated: Man's Body Found in the Etowah River Near Cartersville

A body found by a fisherman in Bartow County has been recovered and will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab for identification, sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Rogers said.

Updated 9:30 p.m.

The body found in the Etowah River was that of a male, according to a 9 p.m. post on the Find Blake Cowart Facebook page:

A male body was found in the river and has been taken to the crime lab for identification. Please pray for the family and be respectful of them if you are posting any comments. We will update as we have more information. The search has been suspended pending positive identification.

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Check back with Cartersville Patch for continuing updates.

Updated 8:30 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Cartersvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A body found shortly before 6 p.m. by a fisherman in the Etowah River has been recovered and will be sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab to be identified, Sheriff Clark Millsap said in a statement.

Rogers wouldn't say whether the body is that of a male or female, just that authorities working to identify the victim. Investigators are waiting until an autopsy is performed before identifying the victim, he said.

Here's BCSO's full statement:

The Bartow County Sheriff's Office is working to identify a body found in the Etowah River this evening.

According to Sheriff Clark Millsap deputies and investigators responded to Jones Slough Road at 5:58pm. A person fishing called 911 to report finding a body in the water. The body was removed and will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab for identification. No further information will be released until the victim is identified and next of kin notified.

Check back with Cartersville Patch for continuing updates.

Original Report

A body has reportedly been found in the Etowah River just outside Cartersville in Bartow County.

Bartow County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Rogers said about 7:30 p.m. that deputies had responded to a report of a body found in the Etowah, possibly by a fisherman, about an hour earlier.

a 5-square-mile area for any sign of from the Etowah. Family, friends and volunteers had planned to continue to search this weekend, with a focus on the water.

Fire and emergency medical crews also responded to the "possible drowning" on Jones Slough Road, off Hardin Bridge Road, Bartow Scanner reports.

Cowart's family has also went to the scene, according to the Find Blake Cowart Facebook page.

Check back with Cartersville Patch for continuing updates.

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