Body Found Floating in Mississippi River was Indiana Homeless Man

Charlie Dwyer

On Friday, October 1st, 2021, at 9:43 A.M., Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of Levee Rd. near Mitchie Rd. rural Monroe County for a report of a body floating near the shore on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. Deputies arrived in the area and located an adult male floating near the shore of the Mississippi River. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit was requested to respond to the scene to assist in the investigation. The Monroe County Coroners Office was also requested to respond to the scene.

An investigation was conducted, which Investigators worked throughout the weekend to identify the deceased male along with determining the cause of death and the manners surrounding how the male died. On Sunday, October 3rd, 2021, an autopsy was completed and the cause of death will be released at a later time pending a toxicology report. With what is presently known to Investigators is the cause of death was death from suffocation resulting from aspiration of water “drowning”.

The deceased male has been identified as: Caleb M. Moriarity, W/M 36 years of age, Homeless. Formerly of Indiana

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Mr. Moriarity had been living in St. Louis City for a period of time. On Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 at around 5:00 P.M., Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department were dispatched to a “Call for Help” at Bellerive Park located at South Broadway and Elmwood in St. Louis City, Missouri. The call for help was in regards to a witness observing two males in the Mississippi River and appeared to be in distress. The witness saw one of the males who was floating on an innertube go underwater near a barge and never resurfaced. The second male was able to make it back to shore to speak with Officers.


The second male was interviewed by St. Louis Officers, he informed the Officers he and his friend attempted to swim across the river to Illinois however during the attempt the water current took them in different directions. The male individual who went underwater near a barge did not resurface. St. Louis City Fire Department searched the river for an extended period of time however was unable to locate the male individual. That male individual has been identified as Mr. Moriarity.


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