Crime & Safety

Body Of Missing Man, 79, Found In Lake Hopatcong: Morris County Officials

Officials began the search for the man on Saturday evening, after he was reported to have gone into the lake and did not resurface.

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — On Monday, officials recovered the body of a 79-year-old Roxbury man who was reported missing after he went into Lake Hopatcong this weekend.

His death is not considered suspicious at this time, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

William Ryan went into the water alone in the southern tip of the lake around 7:30 p.m. Saturday and did not resurface, according to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

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Search and rescue crews from Roxbury Township police and the Morris County Sheriff's and Prosecutor's offices began looking for him, aided by a State Police dive team equipped with sonar technology.

State Police also sent a helicopter team, while the Sheriff’s Office deployed a submersible vessel in the search.

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The search was suspended overnight and resumed Sunday, but officials said water conditions and visibility hampered recovery efforts before crews paused work for the night.

Ryan's body was recovered from the lake Monday morning.

Officials said Ryan lived in Landing, which is a community on the south shore of Lake Hopatcong.

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