Update: The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday the body found in the Mississippi River has been positively identified as Bone Leang, the fisherman missing for a week.
(Memphis) A body has been found in the Mississippi River about two miles from the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, and it could be a break in a missing person’s case.
Police say the body matches the description of fisherman Bone Leang who disappeared in the Mississippi last weekend.
“There’s hope to bring the body back to the family. That’s about it,” said Pouvoreak Yos, a friend of Leang.
Shane Burton was on the river with his family when they noticed a bloated body floating near a sand bar. They said they waited an hour for police to show up.
“[My wife] sat with the deceased for an hour. I had two little kids that I was trying to get away from it. We sat there for two and a half hours. My 12-year-old and 13-year-old kids don’t need to see this. A 40-year-old man does not need to see this,” said Burton.
Police searched the area by boat, air and foot. It took two hours for Harbor Patrol to get to the scene, and five hours to retrieve the body.
Burton said police think it is Leang. He says there were only “long swim trunks. They were black and yellow” on the body.
“If it is really his body, we will just take it home and put him in peace,” said Yos.
The medical examiner is now working to identify the body. We have been told that could take up to a week.
