Marshall County
Sheriff

Marshall County Authorities Investigate Apparent Accidental Drowing in Iowa River

July 12, 2009

Just north of Marshalltown near Center St Dam - AT 5 AM SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 12TH A CALL WAS RECEIVED OF A REPORT THAT A MAN MAY BE DROWNING IN THE IOWA RIVER NORTH OF MARSHALLTOWN.

THE MARSHALLTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MARSHALL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WERE DISPATCHED, IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T INITIALLY CLEAR EXACTLY WHERE NORTH OF MARSHALLTOWN, THIS OCCURRED, RESPONDING OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY DETERMINED THE LOCATION TO BE NORTH AND WEST OF THE IOWA RIVER, CENTER STREET DAM. THIS IS WEST OF CENTER STREET AND JUST NORTH OF THE CITY LIMITS.

UPON ARRIVAL, OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES MET WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WHO HAD BEEN CAMPING ALONG THE RIVER. INITIAL INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE GROUP OF PEOPLE HAD CAMPED NEAR THE RIVER'S EDGE FOR THE NIGHT. EARLY THIS MORNING, TWO MEN OF THIS GROUP WERE SWIMMING IN THE IOWA RIVER WHEN ONE OF THEM HAD SUBMERGED AND COULD NOT BE FOUND.

MARSHALLTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT, SEARCH AND RESCUE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THEY ENTERED THE RIVER AND BEGAN ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE IMMEDIATE AREA WHERE THE VICTIM WAS LAST SEEN.

AT APPX. 7 AM, A BODY WAS LOCATED AND RECOVERED FROM THE RIVER BY MARSHALLTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.

MARSHALL COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER DR. DAVID BETHEL WAS SUMMONED TO THE SCENE WHERE THE MAN WAS PRONOUCED DEAD. THE VICTIM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS "ZACHARYAH LEE WEBB" AGE 27 OF MARSHALLTOWN.

DR. BETHEL WILL BE REQUESTING THE IOWA STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER, IN ANKENY, TO PERFORM AN AUTOPSY ON THE VICTIM.

THE MATTER REMAINS UNDER JOINT INVESTIGATION BY THE MARSHALL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER. AT THIS TIME THE INCIDENT APPEARS TO BE AN ACCIDENTAL DROWNING.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT CONDONE SWIMMING IN THE IOWA RIVER ANYTIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CURRENT IS SWIFT AND AT A HIGH LEVEL.

About Marshall County Sheriff's Office
The Marshall County, Iowa Sheriff's Office is lead by Sheriff Ted G. Kamatchus. Sheriff Kamatchus is committed to keeping communities and neighborhoods safe in Marshall County.

For additional information or a sample copy, contact:
Detective Wade Ruopp
Marshall County Sheriff's Office
641-754-6380
Fax 641-754-6325
Sheriff@co.marshall.ia.us
www.marshallcountysheriff.com

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This webpage was printed on December 4, 2024. For the most current information, visit the Marshall County, Iowa, Sheriff website at marshallcountysheriff.com.
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