An investigation is underway after the body of a 60-year-old Cartersville man was recovered from the Etowah River. Cartersville police were called to the Etowah River Canoe and Kayak Launch on West Avenue around 1:40 p.m. July 5 after someone walking in a wooded area spotted a body in the water.
An officer arrived and found a man floating face-down in the river near a tree limb. According to police, the body was badly decomposed.
Cartersville Police Department investigators and fire rescue crews were called to the scene. Firefighters removed the body from the river and moved it to an area near a bike trail.
During the investigation, authorities found a wallet containing a driver’s license that identified the man as Thomas Odis Taylor, 60, of Cartersville.
Police also noted that Taylor’s right hand was missing. No additional information has been released concerning the condition of his body or how he died.
The coroner and officers with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources also responded. The area was secured while investigators documented and processed the scene.
Taylor’s death remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cartersville Police Department.
