Police investigating body found near river in St. George

ST. GEORGE — Authorities are investigating the scene where a body was found Saturday morning near the Santa Clara River in St. George.

Authorities on scene in the area where a body was found by hikers along the Santa Clara River Saturday around 7:39 a.m. Near 1545 S. Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah, Aug. 5, 2017 | Photo by Sheldon Demke, St. George News

A man was on his morning walk when he found the body and called police, the St. George Police Department said in a statement.

Officers were dispatched to the incident at the river near 1545 S. Dixie Drive at approximately 7:39 a.m., police said.

Detectives are actively working the scene to determine the identity of the deceased individual and to secure evidence.

See the video in media player top of this report.

“We are currently working to identify her,” St. George Police spokeswoman Lona Trombley said, ” … and then from that point before we can release that information we’ll have to speak to family first.”

Trombley did confirm that the body was that of an adult woman.

The body was visible along a wash, Trombley said, where there was not a lot of water – it was not submerged.

Search and rescue crews along with cadaver dogs joined the investigation Saturday morning to help police gather evidence, Trombley said.

“We believe that she was washed downstream within the past few days and they are working to locate any evidence …,” she said, noting authorities do not yet have exact information on timing.

“All investigations such as this, we look at as worst case scenario until we determine that it is not,” Trombley said, adding that the approach is one of respect for the individual and their families.

This report is based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement or other emergency responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.

This is a developing story; bookmark and refresh page for updates.

St. George News reporter Kimberly Scott contributed to this report.

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Twitter: @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.

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19 Comments

  • comments August 5, 2017 at 1:59 pm

    If the body was washed downstream there’d be little or no evidence to gather. So what’s the point of the excavator? I know it’s fun for sgpd to play CSI, but we really need them out there doing traffic. Will wait to find out if this was a murder or accidental.

    • fubar August 6, 2017 at 12:32 am

      Im sure its fun for you to know nothing about a situation, but still offer expert advice.

    • dak4 August 7, 2017 at 8:37 am

      Comments, I’ve been reading your “comments” for a while. They’re negative and annoying. You know nothing of law enforcement practices and it shows, but that’s just my opinion.

      • comments August 7, 2017 at 11:22 am

        It’s cute that you make a name just to come on here to throw insults and negativity of your own. Why don’t you enlighten us with your great wisdom of law enforcement practices instead of just whining about others?

        • dak4 August 7, 2017 at 1:30 pm

          True, my first comment was a bit strong and should be classified as negative but it is what it is. I don’t know why they brought in a backhoe, but I will trust the tactics of trained individuals. Could it be they didn’t want to trample over evidence with their feet and wanted to remove debris from a more remote location in an effort to preserve potential evidence? Lots of possibilities, but you have to open your mind and not be so anti law enforcement to understand that. I know being anti law enforcement is the cool thing right now but it gets frustrating listening to in so many comments.

          • comments August 7, 2017 at 2:20 pm

            I’ve lived here long enough to know a bit about sgpd. I know they’d rather play GI Joe swat commando and CSI “expert” than do needed traffic policing. I know traffic policing isn’t a “fun part of the job”, but the fact is they avoid doing it, and it’s desperately needed around here. They might also bring in an excavator just “for fun”. It isn’t there money they’re spending, after all. I’d sure like to know what they were trying to dig up. Also, law enforcers forget all too easily they are public servants. They get out of hand way too easily.

          • comments August 7, 2017 at 2:23 pm

            And if anything, a huge excavator is just gonna rip up and ruin a crime scene. But how fun to bring out the big kid’s toys. Just like a toy tonka truck for adults. i’ve seen it plenty of times 😉

          • comments August 7, 2017 at 2:29 pm

            It’s possible they were rerouting the water there trying to drain the water to look for evidence, but again, I don’t have that much faith in the competence sgpd. They act too much like a hokey, good-ol-boy, small town pd

          • dak4 August 7, 2017 at 2:54 pm

            Ya traffic is way more important than potential homicide, drug trafficking, sex offenses and so on. Sounds like you have your priorities in order.

          • ladybugavenger August 7, 2017 at 5:58 pm

            You gotta admit Bob, dak4 has humor. That one, made me laugh.

          • comments August 7, 2017 at 9:54 pm

            I picked up on no humor at all. What I got was a combination of hostility and whining. His opinion has no value so it’s fine. You drunk , LBA?

          • ladybugavenger August 8, 2017 at 7:27 pm

            Never Bob…maybe I need a drink. By the way, the tornado was 5 miles away and I slept through it. I’m a failure at storm chasing. Give me a margarita!

        • ladybugavenger August 8, 2017 at 7:28 pm

          Oh and if I could play with big toys, I totally would! Just like the police, sheriffs, and drug task force do. 🙂

  • Caveat_Emptor August 5, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    As a frequent user of this trail, I have seldom noticed anything unusual along the stretch from the SG cemetery all the way up to Cottonwood Cove Park.
    Compared to some of the characters we see around Confluence Park, this area is generally pretty quiet.

  • comments August 7, 2017 at 11:20 am

    We still don’t have a name or a real press release. We don’t know if it was some clown that “got drunk and fell face first in the crick” or a legit murder. I wouldn’t be surprised; our little mormon Mayberry is not the nice little place it once was; murders are almost becoming commonplace here.

  • Rob83 August 8, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    This one better get an update

  • 42214 August 8, 2017 at 6:50 pm

    I wish they would release the ID of the victim. My housekeeper is AWOL and I’m getting concerned.

    • ladybugavenger August 9, 2017 at 12:10 pm

      42214, Are you being serious?

      • 42214 August 9, 2017 at 1:19 pm

        No, it’s more likely ICE got her.

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