Authorities believe a body recovered from Berlin Lake this week is a Stark County man who had been missing since early January.
The body, discovered March 10 near the Stark–Portage county line, is believed to be Jacob Helmick, 52, of Lexington Township outside Alliance, according to the Stark County Sheriff’s Office.
Helmick was last seen Jan. 5 after being involved in a vehicle crash, authorities said. He was reported missing a week later, on Jan. 12.
The Portage County Coroner’s Office said the body showed no external signs of injury.
Portage County coroner’s investigator Lynn Scott said the body was discovered between about 4:30 and 5 p.m. A man was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:23 p.m.
As of the morning of March 11, investigators had not determined how long the man had been dead, Scott said.
An autopsy is being conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death and confirm the man’s identity.
Authorities said the body was found in Berlin Reservoir near the dead end of Watson Road by German Church Road in Deerfield Township.
The Portage County Sheriff’s Office said a family boating on the reservoir contacted authorities after spotting what appeared to be an unidentified object floating in the water.
The Deerfield Township Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Portage County Water Rescue Team assisted in the recovery operation. The Stark County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
