Police Identify Body Found on River Island in Town of Union

Authorities say they have made a positive identification of the human remains discovered on an island in the Susquehanna River near Westover.

According to Johnson City police, the body found Wednesday was that of 36-year-old Nicholas Whitton of Binghamton.

Whitton had been reported missing on March 15 after a vehicle owned by him was seen on Boland Drive in Johnson City. The parked vehicle was located a short distance from the river.

Investigators determined Whitton may have experienced a mental health crisis the night before his vehicle was found. They suspected he may have entered the river.

The river was searched by boat and drone but Whitton could not be located. Police say they do not suspect foul play in his death.

Broome County sheriff's deputies who were patrolling the river on an air boat discovered the man's partially decomposed body around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 772-8400 extension 233.

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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