FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Fredericksburg Police Department has positively ID’d a man they believed to be critically missing.
Darius Appiah's family and friends gathered Saturday morning to do a search of the area in hopes of finding him and one hour later, they came across a body. Some strangers also joined the group of 40 people who searched throughout Fredericksburg.
"I can say I can't even imagine what this family is going through right now," Fredericksburg Police Information Officer, Sarah Morris said.
It became an emotional scene near Alum Springs Park. The family tells WUSA 9 they are traumatized and devastated.
On Saturday, police received a 911 call for reports of a body found in Hazel Run at 10:30 a.m. Patrol officers, the Fredericksburg Fire Department and the Rescue Squad responded to the area at 1:50 p.m. where the body was recovered from the creek.
The victim has been identified as 22-year-old Darius Joshua Appiah, who was reported missing on January 25. Appiah was last seen on January 24 on Maine Road in Fredericksburg, Virginia just before 3 p.m. Family members say he disappeared after getting food on his way home from work.
“Last Friday Mr. Appiah’s vehicle was found in Alum Springs Park, the park closed and at that point Fredericksburg law enforcement and the fire department started to search the entire park," Morris said.
The family said they felt like police could've done more after he was reported missing and that's why they said they started a GoFundMe to hire a private investigator. We also asked police about their initial searches.
“Over a two day period 400 acres were searched up and down, there was not a stone that went unturned," Morris said. "Fortunately and unfortunately nothing was recovered so at that point the investigation concluded in terms of a large search.”
Appiah’s family has been contacted and his body is being transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Police told WUSA 9 there is no obvious evidence of foul play in this case. The family said they are not ready to speak just yet but everyone was heartbroken by the news.
In a statement released by the Fredericksburg Police Department, they sent their condolences to the family and friends of Appiah, who have actively been searching for him since his initial disappearance.
If you have any information about Appiah or the events leading up to his death, you’re asked to contact police at 540-373-3122. His death is now an active investigation.
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