The body found in a pond near Spruce Run Reservoir this morning has been identified as David B. Swanson, 51, of Somerville, the Hunterdon County prosecutor and the State Police have announced.
The body was found in 6 feet of water, about 70 yards off shore. Determination of the cause and manner of death is pending.
Swanson’s family reported him missing yesterday at about 5:30 p.m. “after he did not return from fishing in the area around Spruce Run state park,” Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III said.
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State Police, State Park Police and conservation officers from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife began searching the area immediately with troopers from Perryville station and a helicopter from the NJSP Aviation Unit.
Swanson’s vehicle was found on a dirt road “in a remote area near a small pond not far from the reservoir,” Kearns said.
The pond where the body was found is near the intersection of Van Syckles and Henderson roads.
The search continued today with additional troopers from the Missing Persons unit, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office, and divers from the State Police TEAMS unit.
Divers found a capsized canoe, Kearns said, before recovering a fully clothed body with boots on its feet around 11:40 a.m.
Swanson was not wearing a personal flotation device, Kearns said.
The Hunterdon County medical examiner made a positive identification.
“Our prayers are with Mr. Swanson’s friends and family during their time of grief,” Kearns said.
On the State Police website, Swanson was listed as a missing person with a notation, “He does go kayaking and does go to different areas along the Raritan River or Millstone River in Somerset or Hunterdon counties.”
Anyone with information about this incident can call the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office at (908) 788-1129. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 321-0010 or by going to crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.
