Authorities ID missing Columbus man found in apparent Chattahoochee River drowning
Authorities have identified the Columbus man whose body was found Wednesday morning floating in the Chattahoochee River.
Deputy Coroner Charles Newton said 32-year-old Marcus M. Humbert was the victim of an apparent drowning. His body Thursday was at a state crime laboratory in Atlanta, for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death, Newton said.
Rescue crews recovered Humbert’s body after passersby saw him floating near the Georgia riverbank about 200 yards south of the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, Newton said.
He wore a T-shirt, undershirt, shorts and socks, Newton said. He was found around 8:30 a.m. and pronounced dead on the scene at 9:19 a.m.
Humbert’s family filed a missing person’s report about two days ago, authorities said.
Police Lt. Joyce Dent-Fitzpatrick said the department’s robbery and assault unit has taken over the investigation.
“We’re doing a full investigation of possible things that could’ve happened to him,” Dent-Fitzpatrick said. “At this time, we have no evidence of foul play.”
Wednesday’s apparent drowning brings the total so far this year to four, for Columbus, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan, whose records show that of the other three, two were in private swimming pools and one was on Lake Oliver.
The annual toll of drownings reflected in tallies tracked by Columbus Fire Marshal Ricky Shores shows Columbus has averaged five a year since 2014:
- Three in 2014.
- Nine in 2015.
- Four in 2016.
- Four in 2017.
- Five in 2018.
- Five in 2019.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 11:54 AM.