BELLVILLE — The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the man found dead in the Clear Fork river as Jeffery A. Rapp, a 66-year-old resident of Mansfield.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the body at approximately 11:24 a.m. on Tuesday via a 911 call.
The caller reported Rapp was unresponsive and face down in the river near the intersection of Gatton Rocks Road and Cutnaw Road. The area is a common swimming destination for local residents, despite being located on private property.
Deputies responded to the scene, where they were assisted by the Richland County Coroner’s Office, the Butler Police Department and the Jefferson Township Fire Department. The scene was processed with the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Rapp’s body was found in shallow water according to Tom Stortz, an investigator with the county coroner’s office.
Stortz said there were no signs of injury or foul play and no evidence that drugs or alcohol were factors in Rapp’s death. An official ruling on the cause of death will be issued after an autopsy, which is scheduled for Thursday.
The case remains an active investigation. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information regarding this incident to contact the Major Crimes Unit tipline at 419-774-5610.
