UPDATE:  Police Release ID Of Man Found In Lake

By News Channel 11

Published: July 31, 2008

10:53 a.m. UPDATE:

The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office says the body found in Fort Patrick Henry Lake has been identified as 59-year old Paul J. Phelps from Bristol, Tennessee.  Captain Keith Elton relayed in a news release that the investigation continues and results from an autopsy being conducted will be reviewed to determine cause of death.

——-

A call came to Sullivan County Deputies from a couple of boaters around noon on Wednesday.

The Sullivan County Sheriff told your Tri-Cities News Source the boaters spotted the body of a white male floating just north of the I-81 bridge.

Investigators told us the man is in his 40’s or 50’s and had a gash in his head.

They said the man had a wallet on him, but investigators have not released his identity until family members are notified.

Just south of where the body was found, investigators found a car parked on the I-81 bridge above the river.  It was a blue four door Ford which investigators say was registered to the same name found on the identification found in the victim’s wallet.

Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson says the man’s family last saw him Tuesday night and they say he was very depressed.

Anderson says the are still investigating the death and has not yet ruled out homicide or suicide as the cause of death.