The Broad Street bridge in Seymour over the Naugatuck River.
SEYMOUR — Police have yet to identify the man who was found dead in the Naugatuck River under the Broad Street bridge on Sunday.
Seymour Police Department Chief John Bucherati said the medical examiner’s office performed an autopsy on Monday but has not issued a cause nor manner of death.
A cause of death says how a person died, while the manner of death lists whether the death was accidental, a homicide or suicide.
The body was spotted in the river by a passerby during the Seymour Memorial Day Parade at 11:37 a.m. Sunday.
The body had been there long enough for ‘various stages of decomposition’ to set in. However, police do not yet know how long the person had been there. That is information that will come from the medical examiner’s report.
The investigation is in its preliminary stage, Chief Bucherati said. A positive identification of the person is important in the effort to piece together what happened. Info from the medical examiner will also be critical to that aspect of the case.
“There are some identifying marks on him — some tattoos, and we are trying to identify him that way, but we do not have an ID as of yet,” the chief said. “We’re receiving tips, we have people calling in, and we’ve been checking with area police departments for missing people.“
Anyone with information should contact the Seymour Police Department at 203 881 7600.
“They (the medical examiner’s office) said they did not see any major signs of obvious trauma,” Chief Bucherati said. “There were no gun shot wounds, or knife wounds, or anything like that.” However, the chief noted the medical examiner’s work is not done.
Authorities are also awaiting the results of toxicology tests.
The body found in the Naugatuck River was the second person found dead outdoors in May in the lower Naugatuck Valley.
Ansonia police issued a statement on May 9 saying a deceased man had been found May 8 outside in the area of Myrtle Avenue. Police said Tuesday the death was ruled suicide by firearm. Police are still awaiting DNA testing to confirm a positive identification of the man.
