Missing Man Found Dead in Tuscarawas River

Earlier this week, a man’s body was found floating in the Tuscarawas River in Ohio. According to the Coroner, he died of natural causes. The body has not been identified, and investigators are continuing to search the river.

Body found in the Tuscarawas River

Earlier this week, the body of a missing man was found in the Tuscarawas River in Coshocton County. According to the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, 68-year-old Dale F. Metelko of Newark, Ohio, went missing in March and was believed to be in the river. Metelko was last seen on March 22 walking along railroad tracks near the intersection of U.S. 36 and Township Road 509, according to the Coshocton County Sheriff’s office.

The missing man was reported missing to the Arrowhead Joint Fire District of Gnadenhuten by a 27-year-old man from Sugarcreek. The man said he was with a friend when the canoe capsized near Fillman’s Bottom Road. He was able to get ashore, but lost sight of the missing man. The man reported his friend missing, and the Search & Rescue team started working in the area.

The CAM search and rescue team, which is a Christian ministry group, began searching in the water. They searched the area from around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. They called on various fire departments and law enforcement agencies for assistance. They searched the water for several hours. The Ohio State Highway Patrol and MedFlight also participated in the search.

Search efforts still underway

Efforts to locate a missing man in a tuscarawas river are still underway after a weekend spent out in the open waters. The search is being conducted by the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and several local fire departments. The effort is being supported by the state’s newest search and rescue team, a program sponsored by the nonprofit Christian Aid Ministries. The team is based in Berlin and consists of volunteers who donate their time to help find lost and found persons in the area.

The Search & Rescue Team was founded in late 2016 and has been providing free service to public agencies ever since. They are often tasked with performing water rescues in the area and have received many awards for their efforts. A Search & Rescue Team spokesman told NBC4 that a crew swung into action after the man went missing. It is not clear how the man went missing, but the search is ongoing.

Canoe capsized

Several local fire departments and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) responded to a canoe capsized on the Tuscarawas River on Saturday. Two men were in the boat when it capsized, and one made it to the shore. While the man on the ground and the man in the boat were found alive, the man who went missing was not.

The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office is leading the search for the man. They’ve asked several area fire departments to assist, and they’ve been joined by the ODNR and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Several boats are currently in the river looking for the missing canoe. ODNR officials reminded the public to use watercraft responsibly and to take the time to get a good feel for local conditions.

There are many things to do along the Tuscarawas River Water Trail. One of the best things about the trail is that you can go for a walk or bike ride along the river, and there are several restaurants and shops nearby. There is also a free, family friendly canoeing trail along the river.

Coroner to report on manner and cause of death

Approximately twenty-five years after being reported missing, the body of a man was found in the Tuscarawas River. The body was pulled from the river and turned over to the Tuscarawas County Coroner’s office. The cause of death was confirmed as multiple blunt force impacts. However, no foul play was suspected.

The body was located near the 800 block of Route 416 in Goshen Township. The body was identified as Keith Schlabach, who went missing Saturday when his boat capsized. The Sheriff’s office offered condolences to the Schlabach family. The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office will also investigate the circumstances of the death. The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Department has not released additional information as of press time.

The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s report will detail the manner of death and the cause of death. The Tuscarawas County coroner may also conduct research into viruses, bacteria, and parasites that were found during the autopsy. The coroner may also outsource the research to an epidemiologist.