PARKERSBURG, WV (LOOTPRESS) – UPDATE 7/10/25 12:12 PM: The body of a man found in the Ohio River on July 4th has been identified as Thomas Vernon Basim, born August 8, 1979, of Belpre, Ohio.
Mr. Basim’s family was notified of his death on Wednesday.
According to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, there were no signs of foul play. The cause of death has been determined to be drowning.
The Sheriff’s Office extended its condolences to Mr. Basim’s family during this difficult time.
—
ORIGINAL STORY: A body was discovered floating in the Ohio River Friday afternoon near the Blennerhassett Bridge, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 3:25 p.m. on July 4, a deckhand working on a barge spotted the body in the water and alerted the vessel’s captain. The captain then contacted emergency services.
First responders from both West Virginia and Ohio were dispatched to the scene, including the Natural Resources Police, volunteer fire departments from Blennerhassett, Lubeck, and Little Hocking, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The body, believed to be that of a male, was recovered from the river and examined by the Wood County Coroner’s Office.
Due to the condition of the body, immediate identification was not possible.
Authorities transported the body to Camden Clark Medical Center and said it will be transferred to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for further examination and identification.
The investigation remains ongoing.
