Ever think about finding a body at the James River?

While participating in the James River Cleanup this past weekend, it passed through my mind that maybe one of the hundreds of volunteers might find something awful like a gun or a body. When I go to the river to remote nooks and islands, the thought of running up on something unexpected is occasionally on […]

June 14, 2011; 6:58 AM • by Phil Riggan

While participating in the James River Cleanup this past weekend, it passed through my mind that maybe one of the hundreds of volunteers might find something awful like a gun or a body.

When I go to the river to remote nooks and islands, the thought of running up on something unexpected is occasionally on my mind. Come on, you mean you never think about finding a body at the James River?

While volunteers were looking for trash during the cleanup, the oddest things I saw and heard about were a car bumper with an unexpired license plate, a near-full can of anti-freeze, propane tanks, lawn chairs, barrels, grills, pots & pans, and two bikes.

There were no weapons — knives, guns, etc.  I thought of a recent court case detailed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in which a woman threw the weapon used in a shooting into the James near the 14th Street Bridge:

Richmond police spotted the [car] cross the 14th Street Bridge and followed it to Dock Street on the north side of the James River.

He saw [the shooter] throw something into the water, and divers later found a .41-caliber Smith and Wesson on the river bottom, about 10 feet offshore. The gun was consistent with a bullet that struck [the victim].

Have you ever been down at the James River and found anything dangerous or scary like a gun or a dead body? Have you ever at least been spooked or had that feeling? Share your story!

June 14, 2011 6:58 AM 0