Smithfield Police Chief Keith Powell said Wednesday a body pulled from the Neuse River a day earlier has been sent to the NC Medical Examiners Office. Authorities are awaiting the autopsy report to learn how the victim may have died and also their identity.
A NC Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crew was removing debris that had lodged against the support beams of the Neuse River Bridge over US 301 South in Smithfield when they spotted the body in the debris.
The Smithfield Fire Department responded with a boat and were able to recover the body from the rain swollen river.
Chief Powell said no identification was found on the victim.
