May 24, 2012
UPDATE 2/22/12
MAGOFFIN COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A year after a missing man's body was found, his autopsy results have come back, but do not give his family closure.
Jerry Rowe, Jr., went missing in January 2011. His body was found nearly five months later in the Licking River, just a few miles from where Rowe lived.
Rowe's body was sent to Frankfort for an autopsy and the results were recently released.
"The autopsy came back it was positively identified, the remains were, but cause of death was undetermined," Magoffin County Coroner Mark Jenkins said.
Officials say decomposition played a large role in not being able to determine Rowe's cause of death, but the family told our sister station WYMT that this is unacceptable and they want answers.
"The death report came back undetermined and stuff, and we know better, and we don't believe that at all," Jerry Rowe, Sr. said. "We just hope justice is done. We hope the people responsible pays for it."
Officials say even though the autopsy came back unclear, they are still investigating.
Rowe's family says if anyone has any tips on the case, they can submit them anonymously to P.O. Box 93, Royalton, KY 41464.
Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.
Rowe Jr. was reported missing on February 5, 2011.
The Medical examiner did not say how or when he died.
Kentucky State Police say the incident remains under investigation.
The body was found near the Lakeville Bridge about 7 p.m. Monday.
“It wasn't in anything. It was just found in the river. It appears they may have been there for awhile, but as far as any other information at this time, we really don't have any," said, Sgt. Ronald Peppi of the Kentucky State Police.
Investigators say it was difficult removing the remains from the river because the water was so swift. No word if that body was that of a man or woman. The body has been taken to the State Medical Examiner in Frankfort.
"We'll look at any missing person cases that we have open," said Sgt. Peppi. "Once those go to Frankfort, we should be able to get a positive identification."
One of the missing person cases police will look at is 26 year-old Jerry Rowe, who was last seen on January 28. Despite a lot of speculation, authorities are not saying if the person found could be Rowe.
26-year-old Jerry Rowe, Jr. hasn't been seen since January 28.
Rowe's family says they have increased the reward to $1,000.
Kentucky State Police are investigating the case.
Last week, Rowe's family set up search teams in the Royalton community, where he lives.
Rowe, who is 28 and from Magoffin County, was last seen in the Royalton area on January 28.
Members of the Magoffin County Rescue Squad searched a pond on Sunday but did not find anything. There was also a ground search this past Friday.
A spokesperson for the Kentucky State Police in Pike County says a trooper is assigned to the case and is actively looking for Rowe.
Friends say Rowe's family is offering a $500 reward for any information on his whereabouts.
The family has set up a command post at the Old Salyer Elementary on Route 7. They expect to resume the search around noon on Thursday.
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