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Last updated on Monday, July 24, 2017
(SOUTH BEND) - The body of Donald Lewis was located Sunday morning in the Saint Joseph River.
Around 10:45 a.m., South Bend Fire, South Bend Police, Saint Joseph County Coroner's Office and Indiana Conservation Officers were dispatched to the river near the address of 1858 Riverside Dr, South Bend for a body located in the water.
Three kayakers located the body approximately 20 yards off shore in the river near Keller Park. The body was recovered by South Bend Fire Department and is now in the Custody of the Saint Joseph County Coroner's Office. The body was positively identified as that of Donald Lewis and family has been notified.
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday in Fort Wayne.
Earlier - Indiana Conservation Officers along with the South Bend Fire Department are actively searching for Donald "Donnie" A. Lewis (41) of South Bend who went into the water of the Saint Joseph River downstream of the East Race this morning. Donald Lewis recently moved to South Bend from Coloma Michigan.
South Bend Fire Department received a 911 call this morning at 6:21am advising of a man in the river. The 911 caller received information from a witness who was on scene.
Donald Lewis entered the Saint Joseph River to retrieve a pair of shoes that were tossed in from the nearby shore when he slipped and was swept further into the river by the current. A witness reported seeing Donald Lewis struggling in the water and did not see him make it to shore.
Divers and Swift Water River Rescue technicians from the Indiana Conservation Officers and South Bend Fire Department checked the immediate area of the river downstream of the East Race.
Currently Conservation Officers are utilizing side scan sonar and other equipment to search the river and shoreline. More information will be released as it becomes available
Anyone with information on the incident that led to the disappearance of Donald Lewis should contact Indiana Conservation Officers central dispatch center 1-812-837-9536 or South Bend Police Department 1-574-235-9201.
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