Body Pulled From River Identified as Missing Dog Walker

The body of a man pulled from the Nashua River April 4 has been positively identified as Dagualberto Arzuaga, 43, of 46 Central St., Nashua, who was reported missing by his family on Feb. 13.

Arzuaga apparently fell through thin ice while out walking his sister's dog.

Nashua Police Lt. Michael Moushegian said police and Arzuaga's family were not surprised by the medical examiner's findings. They suspected the body of the man discovered in the river behind Margarita's Restaurant was likely Arzuaga's.

The painstaking identification process, although time consuming, was necessary, Moushegian said. 

"In the absence of a positive identification on the body, and due to the state of the body and condition it was in when found in the river, some of the more customary means of identification were not possible," Moushegian said.

"Identification efforts were further hampered by the inability to locate dental records, and as such, a more labor intensive, time consuming effort to positively identify the body was necessary," he said.

Moushegian said early on in the investigation into Arzuaga's disappearance, physical evidence found in Mine Falls Park suggested he had likely fallen through thin ice into the frigid water.

On Feb. 13, Nashua Fire Department responders entered the water in the canal along a walking path on Spine Road, but did not find Arzuaga.

"It was a difficult search. We were unable to locate the body or further evidence at that time," Moushegian said.

Arzuaga's family has been notified. Moushegian said police did not yet receive an official cause of death, but added that nothing about Arzuaga's death appears to be suspicious.