City man's body found in river on Saturday

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By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

The body of a Defiance man missing since April 8 turned up in the Auglaize River on Saturday morning.

A city resident who had been helping with the search found the body of Eric Flory, 29, 10026 Dowe Road, around 7:30 a.m. Saturday near Riverside Park, according to Defiance County Sheriff David Westrick. The sheriff said the man's body was found floating several feet from shore, just east of the Defiance City School District's bus garage.

According t o Westrick, the city resident who found Flory's body wished to remain anonymous, but was one of three persons very familiar with the river who had been helping authorities search since April 8.

"We very much appreciate the help of the guys as does the (victim's) family," said Westrick. "Over the course of years they have helped us when we have had difficulty on the water."

Authorities said Flory was last seen attempting to swim across the Auglaize just west of the Jefferson Avenue bridge around 2 a.m. on April 8.

A companion with Flory at the time -- Jorge Tenorio, 29, Defiance -- also swam a brief distance in the river, then returned to shore, authorities said.

Asked why the two men tried to swim across the river, Westrick declined to comment.

Westrick said Flory's family contacted his office 15 hours after the incident, reporting that the victim had gone into the river and was missing.

When questioned about what happened, explained Westrick, Tenorio said "he thought possibly that his friend had made it. Tuesday he (Tenorio) started anticipating the worse."

Flory's body was recovered by the Defiance Fire Department and sheriff's office.

An autopsy will be conducted by the Lucas County coroner's office. Results may be returned within a week.