A body found in the Kuskokwim River last week has been identified as George Mute, a 26-year-old man from Southwest Alaska who went missing 9 months ago, Alaska State Troopers reported Thursday.
Mute was aboard a small boat with two other men on Sept. 16 when it became stranded. The next morning, Bethel Search and Rescue reported finding two men on the riverside near Napaskiak, about 7 miles from Bethel. One man said Mute was with them, but had gone missing, troopers said at the time.
An extensive search turned up nothing. On June 10, a body was found in the river near the village of Napakiak, downrivern of Napaskiak. The State Medical Examiner's Office later identified the remains as those of Mute.