GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police have identified the body pulled from the Grand River on Friday and only say this is a death investigation at this point.
Police reported Monday morning the body was that of Jamel Parker, 31, who was last seen on February 12 near the 1500 block of Broadway.
Parker's body was found Friday in the river near the 1500 block of Scribner. Police say his death is still under investigation and are calling this a "death investigation" as they wait for autopsy results and further investigate what happened and who Parker was with when he disappeared.
Parker is a father of a 6-year-old son. Family manage a GoFundMe page that originally raised money for a reward for information regarding Parker or any possible suspects. When police notified family of Parker's death, his GoFundMe was updated to read, "Thank you all for your continued prayer and support. We now know that Jamel was running into the arms of our Father God."
Less than 24 hours earlier, loved ones managing the Facebook page, Finding Jamel Parker, wrote, "Loving and missing you! Not giving up!"
A tip on Friday led police to discover Parker's body. It was one of many tips investigators received since Parker was announced missing by Feb. 14. His body was found nearby where he was last seen: running from a party he attended near Broadway and Webster on Sunday, Feb. 12 around 3 a.m. After several searches by helicopter, boat, and foot, authorities found only a shoe near the Grand River.
As of Friday evening, police say no one is in custody as their investigation continues.
"Our investigators are looking into every angle to determine what took place," said Sgt. Terry Dixon with the GRPD. "It is important to know, for the public, that the GRPD will do everything that we can to uncover and find out what took place."
We'll have more details when they become available.
