Body recovered in water near Naval Submarine Base
Groton — State police are investigating a body that sailors found Tuesday in the Thames River near the Naval Submarine Base.
Sub base spokesman Chris Zendan said Tuesday that police believe the body is that of the Montville kayaker who went missing last month. Zendan said sailors at the waterfront found the body not long after noon Tuesday.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, state police, Groton Town Police and sub base and Navy investigators all initially responded to help with the investigation with the body, though state police had taken over the investigation.
Montville police and state police at Troop E continue to investigate the missing kayaker separately, Montville police Lt. Leonard Bunnell said Tuesday.
The Coast Guard, with assistance from nearby municipalities, searched for hours on Feb. 20 after family members reported Lyle Dagenais, 31, left to go flounder fishing on the Thames River the previous morning and didn't return. Crews located Dagenais' kayak near the Yale boathouse in Gales Ferry that afternoon, and The Coast Guard called off the search later that night.
Zendan said the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken the body to determine the person's identity.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is investigating the discovery of the body, with assistance from the sub base and Navy investigators. The state and the state police Eastern District Major Crime Squad also are assisting. Groton Town police also initially assisted in the investigation.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.