Body Discovered in Wicomico River - WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's Choice

SALISBURY, Md. - A body was found floating in the Wicomico River just behind Brew River Restaurant on West Main Street.

Freddie Rice, who was on a tugboat discovered the body shortly after 2 PM. "I came out to check the lines. I happened to see his head was sticking out of the water. I went and told my buddy - he thought I was kidding. He came out and looked, and we came back in and called 911."

Authorities were on the scene shortly after. "They had a boat hook and they had the line around him and pulled him down to the rescue boat that came and got him. They pulled him up on the stern of the boat and they put him in a bag," Rice said.

The body has been identified as 72-year-old William Alfred Cole Jr. of Salisbury, Md. Police won't release any further information on Cole, but we do know that his body will be transported to Baltimore for an autopsy.

Damante Hunt sits by the river every day to meditate. He was by the river around 1 AM the night before and says he didn't see anything suspicious. "I'm shocked because this is my spot where I can communicate with God. It's pretty much a safe place around here. It's just so shocking to hear this happen. There's normally people out fishing and I bring my 2 kids out once in a while," Hunt said. 

Anyone that may have seen Mr. Cole before to 2:20 PM on Monday is asked to contact the Salisbury Police Department at 410-548-3165.