Police confirmed the body found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish is that of LSU freshman Kori Gauthier, according to reporter Brian Holland.
BREAKING:
— Brian Holland (@BHollandSports) April 14, 2021
Per LSU--
"Authorities have confirmed that the body recovered in the Mississippi River on Tuesday, April 13, in St. John the Baptist Parish has been identified as missing LSU student Kori Gauthier"#LSU
Gauthier had been missing for a week.
No foul play is suspected and no cause of death was released, according to reporter Shakari Briggs.
Police still believe there was no foul play or criminal activity related to Kori Gauthier’s disappearance.
— ShakariSBriggs (@ShakariSBriggs) April 14, 2021
A cause of death has not been released as of yet. Read what LSU chief of police Bart Thompson had to say about the investigation: #KoriGauthier #LSU https://t.co/otNddGLKtV pic.twitter.com/ZWp2fyyUQL
Her car was found unoccupied last Wednesday at the scene of an accident on the Mississippi River bridge on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, according to CNN. The Louisiana Department of Transportation confirmed there was an accident on the I-10 bridge that shut down two lanes of traffic.
A body has been found in the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish, per Sheriff's Office.
— Kelly Anne Beile (@KellyAnneTV) April 13, 2021
The discovery comes amid a search for LSU student, Kori Gauthier.
LSU has announced a press conference at 2 pm. We will bring you that live on NBC & FOX. #BatonRouge #FindKori pic.twitter.com/v5TZKL0WTo
According to The Advocate, Sheriff Mike Tregre confirmed the body was recovered from near Milepost 137.
A crewmember on a tugboat spotted the body in the middle of the river and called police around 9:18 a.m. CT Tuesday, according to Tregre.
LSU police have been in contact with authorities in St. John the Baptist Parish since the body was found, LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard III said Tuesday.
<a href="https://www.wafb.com/2021/04/09/investigators-brpd-did-not-contact-registered-owner-after-missing-girls-car-was-found-abandoned-bridge/">WAFB</a> reported Gauthier’s car appeared to be abandoned and left running on the bridge. “Once officers got to the scene, they found Gauthier’s personal belongings — including her phone — inside and they had her car towed to a junkyard,” WAFB said.
The search was narrowed after a K-9 cadaver dog alerted the same area of the river twice earlier Saturday, the school said in its statement.
The school’s police department has been in touch with Gauthier’s parents, and they are sharing details with them privately, LSU said.
Gauthier was an 18-year-old freshman at LSU.
