The body recovered from the Kalamazoo River early Sunday morning is believed to be that of 31-year-old Cortez Lewis, missing since early March when the vehicle he was driving crashed into the river.
Emergency crews were called to the river at Stringham Road and Jackson Street at 1:05 a.m. Sunday after a fisherman noticed the body, which was close to the south riverbank and held under tree roots.
A wallet with Lewis’ state identification was found on the body, and police said the clothing and physical characteristics are a match to Lewis. His family, present during the weeks officials have searched the river, has been notified.
The body was located about a mile downstream from where officials on March 12 pulled, from the convergence of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo rivers, a Hyundai Sonata that was driven by Cortez, of Detroit. That was about a week after Cortez crashed into the river in the vehicle, early on the morning of March 4.
Battle Creek Police and Fire, Calhoun County, and Emmett Township officials were part of Sunday’s recovery effort.