Alaska News

Troopers ID man’s body found floating near Ketchikan

Update 8:30 a.m. Tuesday: Alaska State Troopers have identified a man found dead Friday in the Tongass Narrows near Ketchikan.

An updated trooper dispatch named the deceased as 63-year-old Ketchikan resident Harris Hunter Wood II. Troopers had responded to reports of his body floating near the 4700 block of the North Tongass Highway at about 6:45 p.m. Friday.

"The autopsy results determined the cause of death to be drowning," troopers wrote. "The next of kin has been notified."

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said in an email Tuesday morning that investigators had learned little else about the circumstances of Wood's death.

"We don't know when or where he went into the water," Peters wrote. "He was about 10 feet from shore when he was found."

Original story:

Alaska State Troopers are asking for help from the public to learn more about a man found dead in waters off Ketchikan Saturday evening.

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The man was retrieved from the Tongass Narrows Saturday, after troopers responded at about 6:45 p.m. to reports of a body near the 4700 block of the North Tongass Highway, troopers wrote.

The "adult male body was brought to shore but hasn't been positively identified," troopers wrote. "The state medical examiner's office had been notified and the body is being flown to Anchorage for an autopsy."

Troopers ask anyone who may have information to contact the Ketchikan trooper post at 907-225-5118.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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