Authorities identified the body found in the Charles River near Boston University Tuesday morning as that of 23-year-old missing graduate student Jonathan Dailey, officials said.
Dailey’s dental records were positively matched with the remains by a forensic odontologist at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, according to an emailed statement from Suffolk County District Attorney spokesman Jake Wark.
Dailey, a former Boston Architectural College graduate student from North Carolina, went missing on Oct. 2. Flyers posted by friends and family of the student stated he was last seen wearing a white, button-down shirt and white shorts.
A BU rowing coach first spotted the body floating in the river near the BU Bridge at about 7:25 a.m. Tuesday, according to an emailed statement from Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio.
The Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit responded to recover the body, Procopio said.
Police have not yet determined the circumstances of Dailey’s death and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet determined the cause of death, Wark said.
“We rule out no possibility and we promise Mr. Dailey’s family a thorough, comprehensive search for the truth as we investigate his death,” Wark said.
This is the second body found in the Charles River in two days.
Wark said in an earlier phone interview that officials have tentatively identified the body found in the water near BU’s campus Monday as a middle-aged male, believed to be in his mid-60s, but are still awaiting confirmation.
Speculation initially suggested the first body could have been that of Dailey.
Dailey attended Appalachian State University as an undergraduate and graduated in 2011, according to the ASU website.
Dailey had not registered for fall 2012 classes at BAC, according to a BAC press release.
“Jonathan was registered at the BAC as a first-year [masters in Architecture] student during the 2011–12 academic year,” the release stated. “Our records do not indicate that he registered for this [2012] fall semester. His registration last year indicated that he moved to Boston from his home in Charlotte, N.C.”
Friends and family created a Facebook group to get community involvement and raise awareness about Dailey.
Friends and family did not respond to several emails from The Daily Free Press Tuesday.
Dailey was missing from the Brighton area, where he lived with a roommate named Miles, according to the missing flyer. The flyer stated Dailey worked in Cambridge and his roommate last saw him Tuesday night in their apartment.
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My Condolences to John’s Family & friends. This is such a heartBreak. My Prayers are with U All. My Prayers are also with the 1st man’s Family. Does this look like a serial killer @ work to anybody else? We also had the other Student that was Missing last year, who was Also Found ina Body of Water! What Is going On? I believe the other Student was from Maine & it was said that, there was NO foul play.? I think That should be ReThought! Prayers to ALL involved & GOD BLESS. ~ US ALL.