Man's Body Found in Alafia River

RIVERVIEW, FL — The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has recovered the body of an adult male from the Alafia River following a search for a missing father. The discovery was announced shortly before 1 p.m. Nov. 1.

While the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner will make the final identification and establish cause of death, the body is believed to belong to William George Morris, 38, who went missing Monday evening. Morris went for a jet ski ride with his 3-year-old son and never returned.

The disappearance was discovered when Morris’ wife called her husband’s cellphone and the 3-year-old answered via Facetime, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email to media. The wife notified the sheriff's office around 5:48 p.m. Oct. 31.

The boy was found safe Monday evening by a resident who spotted him on Island 75. The resident stayed with the child until law enforcement arrived, the email said.

“When deputies searched the island, Morris’ jet ski was located on the south side of the island, pulled up on the back with the adult life jacket on the jet ski,” the email said. “Morris’ wallet was also found in the jet ski.”

The initial search for Morris was called off Monday evening, but divers, aviation units and marine patrols returned to the river early Tuesday morning.

No further information is available at this time.

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