Last week, in the context of a roundup about deaths and accidents on Colorado waterways (among the victims was Steven Kelly, who posted a Facebook video just before a fatal tubing trip), we told you about the search for Joseph Goodwin, known to his friends as Joey, who vanished on the Platte River.
Yesterday, the Denver Police Department confirmed that a body had been discovered.
The DPD hasn't revealed the victim's identity.
However, Goodwin's brother, Roger, has posted on Facebook that the body is Joey's — and a fundraising page has been created to raise money for a memorial service.
As noted in our earlier report, Goodwin, was a twenty-year-old former Marine. Here's another photo from his Facebook gallery:
The images above show that he was in great shape. However, the South Platte's current and high water of the sort that remains common in Colorado right now proved too much for him.
At around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, the Sheridan Police Department received what it described as "a report of a subject in distress in the Platte River just north of West Union Avenue."
Upon their arrival, officers were told that Goodwin had fallen off an inner tube and went into the river.
Witnesses said he surfaced and went under several times, with a number of people trying and failing to reach him. Then he went below the water again and didn't return to the surface.
A search for Goodwin was conducted on Saturday and again on Sunday, with multiple agencies taking part.
The mission was called off on Sunday.
Then, yesterday, the Denver Police Department tweeted the following:
#UPDATE: Death investigation being conducted at Huron & Exposition appears to be Not suspicious. No others details available. #DPD
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) June 28, 2015If you haven't yet heard, they found Joey in the Platte today. As difficult as this is and has been, we are very glad he has been found. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We will be making arrangements for a ceremony within the next few weeks, and will keep everyone posted when we figure it out.A subsequent post noted that a "we have created a fundraising page for Joey's memorial costs and any other costs we may incur. Whether you knew him or not, would you consider making a donation to help? Also if you have not done so, please take some time right now to call your siblings. Tomorrow is never guaranteed...."
The original link to Goodwin's GiveForward.com page supposed to be accessible here proved a bit glitchy this morning, but we located a cached version. Here's the introduction.
"Joey", as many knew him in childhood, was a vibrant, energetic young man who was taken home to the be the Lord on Saturday, June 20, 2015 while tubing in the South Platte River.The cached version shows that nearly $1.700 has been pledged toward a $5,000 goal.
After eight days of searching, Joe's body was found close to I-25 and Sante Fe. We want to encourage all that finding him brought closure to those who loved him, finding solace and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ; knowing that Joe has just begun the best part of his life; eternity with the Father. The family is overwhelmed by the love and support of the community and want to give those who have offered, an outlet to help with the Memorial costs and of course, other expenses that have and will incur during this time.
Our sincere condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Joseph "Joey" Goodwin.
Look below to see a Fox31 from the weekend that Goodwin went missing.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
