A body that authorities believe to be that of Cristian Martinez — a 20-year-old Muscatine man reported missing a week ago — was recovered Saturday from the Iowa River, more than a mile downstream from where he was last seen.
Iowa City police said they responded shortly after noon to Napoleon Park, 2501 S. Gilbert St., on the east bank of the river. Authorities said a couple reported what they thought was a body in the river.
City officers and Johnson County deputies retrieved a body from the river. The city said in a news release that the Johnson County Medical Examiner's Office would positively identify the individual found and determine the cause and manner of death.
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Martinez had gone to Iowa City with some friends who last saw him in the alley behind Bardot Iowa, a bar at 347 S. Gilbert St., sometime before 1 a.m. April 15. His phone had died earlier in the evening, according to the Iowa City Police Department.
Martinez was reported missing after his family noticed he hadn’t come home with his friends. Iowa City police investigators found security footage that showed Martinez at 12:56 a.m. April 15 in the 100 block of W. Harrison Street, walking west toward the river.
Police had been searching the Iowa River, Ralston Creek and other surrounding areas for Martinez, including using drones in the area where he was last seen. Martinez’ family had offered a $25,000 reward for his safe return.
A relative established
Go Fund Me online fundraising account on his behalf, which had raised more than $20,000 by Saturday evening.
A body that authorities believe to be that of Cristian Martinez was recovered Saturday from the Iowa River, more than a mile downstream from where he has last been seen.
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