ST. GEORGE — Authorities are investigating the scene where a body was found Saturday morning near the Santa Clara River in St. George.
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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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
Law enforcement vehicles and crime scene tape cordon off an area where a body was found by hikers along the Santa Clara River Saturday around 7:39 a.m.
Eddy Ortiz, who submitted this photo to St. George News, said: "We were walking on the Santa Clara river trail and we noticed that the trail was blocked and police officers were down by the wash." Near 1545 S. Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah, Aug. 5, 2017 | Photo courtesy of Eddy Ortiz, St. George News
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
St. George Police respond to an 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
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
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
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
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2017, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
"I wrote my first word when I was very young. I enjoyed this so much I decided to write many more words."
A native of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Ric was bitten by the news bug as a staff writer and associate editor of the Palisades High School Tideline. After school he entered the media as a radio personality, both playing music and reporting news. Ric moved to St. George in the 1980s and was the morning personality on all three major AM stations in town. An avid amateur radio operator, Ric is looking for a good band to play in, as he plays keyboards, bass and guitar. Ric, who currently is working on developing a lifestyle that doesn't require his presence, lives in the center of St. George with his partner Terri, two snoring dogs and too many neurotic cats.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
Im sure its fun for you to know nothing about a situation, but still offer expert advice.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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 😉
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
Ya traffic is way more important than potential homicide, drug trafficking, sex offenses and so on. Sounds like you have your priorities in order.
You gotta admit Bob, dak4 has humor. That one, made me laugh.
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?
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!
Oh and if I could play with big toys, I totally would! Just like the police, sheriffs, and drug task force do. 🙂
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.
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.
This one better get an update
I wish they would release the ID of the victim. My housekeeper is AWOL and I’m getting concerned.
42214, Are you being serious?
No, it’s more likely ICE got her.