Justin Hearn
(Vevay, Ind.) – A body believed to be that of a missing duck hunter was pulled from the Ohio River near Vevay on Sunday evening.
Indiana Conservation Officers say Switzerland County 911 was alerted of the discovery at approximately 5:36 p.m. when a man searching for fallen deer antlers in the river bottom area a half-mile east of Vevay spotted the body.
The body is believed to be that of Justin Hearn, 20, of Worthville, Kentucky. Hearn has been missing since December 2010 when he was duck hunting in a john boat with two other men and the vessel capsized near Florence, Indiana.
Hearn became missing and presumed lost in the river as a result of that incident.
According to Indiana Conservation Officer Chris Powell, the clothing on the body found Sunday matches that which Hearn was reported to have been wearing when lost. Powell was investigative lead in the December 13 incident in which Hearn was lost and was present this evening when the body was recovered.
Hearn’s parents have been notified of the discovery.
The remains were located approximately seven river miles downstream from where Hearn went missing.
Switzerland County Coroner Lewis Fritter advised that the body will be transported to Hamilton, Ohio, on Monday for autopsy and positive identification.
Assisting conservation officers at the scene were Switzerland County Sheriff’s Department, Switzerland County Coroner, and Indiana State Police.
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