Early afternoon on Friday, May 24 A call came into the Paulding County 911 dispatch to report a possible body floating in the flooded Maumee River. A couple were traveling south on Country Rd 73 crossing the Forders Bridge East of Antwerp near County Road 424 (old Us 24) when they spotted what they believed to be a body floating down the flooded river. They got out of their vehicle to try and take a picture, but the waters were too fast, quickly taking the body out of sight.
Immediately Paulding County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to that bridge and other checkpoints along the Maumee River including Cecil Bridge. With the heavy rains over the past week, the river had been over flood stage and flowing between five and 10 mph.
Shortly after 4 PM the body was spotted by deputies at the Cecil Bridge, but could not access due to the high water. They followed the body down the river and it was able to be retrieved by the Defiance County Sheriffs Deputies.
The investigation begins now with identifying the corpse and finding the origination from Indiana or Ohio. The cause of death is also being investigated by the coroners office.
The West Bend news will give more information as it is received from the Sheriff’s Office.
