MEDIA RELEASE – APRIL 8, 2013
BODY RECOVERED FROM DELAWARE RARITAN CANAL
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III announced that a body was recovered from the Delaware Raritan Canal yesterday.
On April 7, 2013, at 2:47 pm, the New Jersey State Police Kingwood Barracks, the Delaware Township Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, the Stockon Fire Department, and paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center were dispatched for a reported body in the water along the shoreline of the Delaware Raritan Canal near Bull’s Island. The discovery was made by a family kayaking in a remote area of the Delaware Raritan Canal State Park.
Additional units from the NJSP Marine Services Bureau, the Hopewell Township Police (Mercer County), the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Hunterdon County Medical Examiner's Office responded to investigate.
According to Prosecutor Kearns, “Detectives found a New Jersey Driver's License on the caucasian male which matched a missing person from Hopewell Township. Preliminary investigation indicates that Christopher Franz, age 49, of Hopewell Township may have jumped off the Pedestrian Bridge at Bulls Island taking his own life. There did not appear to be any signs of foul play. Mr. Franz was reported missing in early January of this year.”
An autopsy was conducted today with a determination of cause and manner of death pending along with toxicology reports.
The Prosecutor added, “Our condolences go out to Mr. Franz’s family.”
Anyone with information about this incident can submit anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010 or by going to www.crimestoppershunterdon.com, or text messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip message to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download the free mobile app “Tipsubmit” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging. All tips are anonymous and kept confidential.
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