A man whose body was found in Black River Saturday on the south side of Poplar Bluff has been identified.
Butler County coroner Jim Akers said that the man has been identified as Kenneth White, 67, of Poplar Bluff. White’s identity was determined by dental records and x-rays conducted at an autopsy Tuesday.
The autopsy also determined White drowned.
Akers said that White suffered from a medical condition that caused a change to his mental status over the past two months. He was hospitalized July 20, but later left the facility against medical advice.
According to Akers, interviews and video from area businesses revealed White was in downtown Poplar Bluff July 21. White was reportedly last seen alive at the train depot around 12:30 p.m. July 21, two days before his body was found by three kayakers in the river near the intersection of Ashcroft Road and Wilson Street.
Akers thanks the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, Poplar Bluff Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Butler County Health Department, in addition to the members of the public who provided information and assisted with the investigation.