Investigation Underway After Swimmers Discover Body Near Gatton Rocks
BELLVILLE, Ohio — A Tuesday morning swim near Gatton Rocks turned into a major law enforcement investigation after vacationers discovered a body in the Clear Fork Mohican River.
According to WMFD-TV, a couple visiting the Bellville area from Cuyahoga County encountered the body at approximately 11:20 a.m. while swimming near the well-known recreation spot outside the village.
The discovery prompted a multiagency response involving the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff’s dive team, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Richland County Coroner’s Office. Butler Police Department and Jefferson Township-Bellville Fire and Rescue also assisted at the scene.
Investigators have not released the identity of the deceased or disclosed whether there were any visible signs indicating how the person died.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office and BCI are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected following identification of the deceased and an examination by the Richland County Coroner’s Office.
