Deputy finds body of man missing in Tar River
PRINCEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- UPDATE:
Nash County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputy Brice Wordsworth discovered a body Thursday afternoon while fishing in Greenville.
The body has been identified by the Edgecombe Sheriff's Office as the body of Heartseas Volunteer Firefighter Anthony Brunett.
Brunett went missing while swimming in the Tar River in Princeville on March 13.
Deputy Wordsworth located the body while fishing near the Town Commons in Greenville and immediately called 911 and showed the Greenville Police Department the location of the body upon their arrival.
Wordsworth said that "I am saddened to find the remains, but I hope that this will give the family of Anthony Brunett some peace and closure."
ORIGINAL STORY:
Crews continue to search the Tar River for a volunteer firefighter who went missing Sunday afternoon. He disappeared in the water at Shiloh landing in Edgecombe County. Officials are now calling the search a recovery effort.
The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office says they responded to a call around 4:10 p.m. They say three men were fishing when they decided to go for a swim and one of them vanished.
Crews were out Monday on boats canvassing the waterway. Divers were also in the water and the officials used a drone.
Officials say the search has not been easy.
"Treacherous conditions with the rain in the immediate area," said Princeville Fire Chief James Powell. "The current of the river and level has made it difficult for us to be able to pinpoint an actual search area."
Authorities are not releasing the victim's name. They say he's about 20-years-old.
