DES MOINES – An Iowa man who fishermen reported to police was yelling for help in a river has been found and identified.
Polk County, Iowa deputies responded to a call of a man yelling for help in the Des Moines River just to the west of the 4300 block of Morningstar Drive near the Neal Smith Bike Trail. On Monday, June 8th at 8:32 p.m. two separate men who were fishing on the Des Moines River contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to report the incident. The two fishermen lost sight of the man after he went underwater.
Polk County deputies responded to the scene and were unable to locate the man, who was only described as a white male. Des Moines Fire/Rescue launched multiple boats and assisted in the search. At 10:30 PM that evening, the search was postponed due to the darkness. A search the next day was fruitless, as well.
On Friday, June 12th just before 5:00 PM, Polk County Conservation received a report of a body floating in the Des Moines River near Yellow Banks Park. Polk County deputies, Polk County Conservation, Pleasant Hill Fire Department and the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office were called to the scene. At 7:30 PM, the body was recovered and transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
The victim has been identified by the State Medical Examiner’s Office as 32-year-old Bobby Lee Long of Des Moines. Polk County detectives are investigating this case to determine if the body of Mr. Long was the individual observed yelling for help in the Des Moines River near the 4300 block of NW Morningstar Drive on Monday, June 8th.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Long.