Norwich — The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Monday that the death of 17-year-old Karl Joseph was an accidental drowning.

City police found Joseph's body Sunday afternoon. He had been missing since his kayak capsized in the Shetucket River a week earlier.

Police said they located the body at 1:45 p.m. Sunday in the same area where the kayak had capsized. 

Joseph, a junior at Norwich Free Academy, had gone into the water when his kayak capsized about 10 p.m. May 3 about 30 feet from the shore near 751 N. Main St., according to statements from witnesses. The kayak was found about 100 yards north of the Greeneville Dam.

Attempts to rescue Joseph had been unsuccessful. The Norwich Police Department, the Norwich Fire Department, the state police, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and several area volunteer fire companies had assisted in recovery efforts, police said.

State police had withdrawn from the search on Thursday, but a state police spokesman had said at that time that local police and DEEP were likely to continue their investigation. State police had used divers, a boat equipped with sonar, a helicopter and a remote control submersible device to aid in the search of the river.

Norwich police did not provide details Sunday about exactly how they located Joseph's body.

On Sunday, NFA issued the following statement:

"The Norwich Free Academy community grieves the death of Karl Joseph. Karl was a respected, outgoing, and popular member of the Class of 2016. His smile characterized him. The thoughts and prayers of the entire NFA community are with his family and friends during this difficult time. Our crisis management team has met and will continue to meet. Counseling and support services available to our students, faculty, and staff during the course of the past week will continue as long as members of the NFA community are in need of them."

Norwich Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Kevin Wilbur at (860) 886-5561, extension 152.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich