Boater missing for weeks found dead 400 feet from where he vanished, Michigan cops say
The body of a 26-year-old boater was discovered in a Michigan river Wednesday, March 15, more than a month after he went missing, cops say.
Officers in Saginaw County had been searching for Nathan Robbins since a boat he was in capsized on the Tittabawasse Rive on Feb. 12, sheriff’s officials said in a news briefing streamed by WNEM.
Robbins was with a friend when their boat began having motor issues.
“When their aluminum boat stalled, Robbins attempted to get it running again,” WWJ reported. “As he worked to restart the water craft, his sweater got caught in a part of the motor. Efforts to untangle the sweater caused the vessel to flip over.”
The friend called 911 when Robbins did not resurface, Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel said Thursday.
He and his friend were traveling by river to meet their girlfriends, MLive reported. They had been on a fishing trip together, according to WJRT.
Federspiel said crews had been at the river nearly every day since Feb. 12 trying to find Robbins.
A cadaver dog helped make the discovery Wednesday by sniffing out a spot near where the body was ultimately found, the sheriff said. Robbins’ body was located about 400 feet away from where he vanished, submerged in 9 feet of water, according to Federspiel.
The sheriff said the water was full of “dirt, mud, debris and sticks,” making it difficult for divers to see.
“It’s been a long, difficult process for the family, for the community and for our officers,” Federspiel said.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing and the sheriff said an autopsy will be conducted within the next week.
In a Facebook post Thursday morning, Robbins’ mother thanked those who helped search for her son.
“We are finally getting closure and have a tough road ahead of us!!” Michelle Robbins said. “Bless everyone for the support given!!!”
The Tittabawasse River flows through the lower peninsula of Michigan. Saginaw County is about 100 miles northwest of Detroit.
This story was originally published March 16, 2023 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Boater missing for weeks found dead 400 feet from where he vanished, Michigan cops say."