An unidentified body was found in the Hocking River on Monday, authorities said, and it will likely be weeks until the body can be identified.
"We have an undetermined death here today," Athens Police Chief Tom Pyle said, speaking to media at a press conference on the city's west side.
Pyle declined to specify whether the body, first reported to authorities by fishermen in the area, was completely submerged when found or if it were floating. He declined to comment on the sex of the body as well and would not say if it was collected with any identifying clothing or other belongings.
He also said could not confirm whether the body was that of Sam Wiater, the Athens man who was reported missing by his mother last month. Officers at the scene said they did call Wiater's mother to let her know a body had been found.
Pyle ended the press conference by saying that it could take a little as a few days or as long as six weeks for the Athens County Coroner to identify the body.
As he was walking away, he turned to ask reporters to stick around while he took a phone call.
A few moments later, he announced that forensics, including an autopsy, had been ordered and that identification of the body would not likely come in the next few days.
Pyle declined to comment on the condition of the body and said the autopsy order is not necessarily indicative of the body being in poor condition.
The chief was joined by other APD officers and city officials, including City Service Safety Director Ron Lucas and Athens Fire Chief Robert Rymer.
This is a developing story. Stick with The Post and follow @ThePostLocal for updates.
