Fayette authorities looking for drowning victim at Kanawha Falls - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Fayette authorities looking for drowning victim at Kanawha Falls

Posted: Updated:

Deputies in Fayette County are continuing to search for a man they believe drown near Kanawha Falls Saturday.

David Jones, 47, of Powellton, was reported missing Saturday, according to the Fayette County Sheriff's Department. Investigators believe he drown at about 11 p.m. Saturday.

A dog was brought in Sunday and led searchers to a spot along the river, but no body was found, deputies said.

Today, searchers are using an underwater camera to look beneath the surface of the river, deputies said.

"There has been a lot of rumor and speculation among several local residents that this death was a homicide," Sheriff Steve Kessler, told our sister station, WVNT-TV.  "Our preliminary investigation does not indicate any potential foul play in connection with this drowning, but we cannot reach a definitive conclusion one way or another until the victim's body is located and is sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.  At this point our primary concern is locating the victim's body."

Jones was reportedly trying to swim across the Kanawha River when he disappeared, investigators said. The case is under investigation by the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.