Autopsy on Sharon's body to be conducted today
By Teresa Fralish
Assistant News Editor
Missing freshman Chad Sharon's body has been tentatively identified as the one found partially submerged in the St. Joseph River, police announced at a press conference Wednesday. Sharon's body was discovered floating underneath the Angela Bridge that runs over the river.
"There were some gentlemen from a concrete cutting company [working near the bridge] and they spotted the body in approximately two feet of water," said Commander Tim Corbett of the County Metro Homicide Police. The workers notified police about the body and it was pulled from the river by officials at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Corbett would not comment on the possibility of foul play in the case. He said after Sharon's body was pulled from the river police transported it to Memorial Hospital.
"The autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow," said Corbett. After the autopsy is completed, police will consider whether or nor foul play was involved.
"There's nothing further we can say until that autopsy," said Mike Dvorak, the St. Joseph County prosecutor.
Father Mark Poorman, vice president for student affairs, said Sharon's parents were notified early this afternoon that a body closely matching their son's description had been found in the river. "We called [them] back to let [them] know it was positively identified," said Poorman. The University will fly Sharon's parents to campus today so they can meet with administrators and students and prepare for their son's funeral arrangements.
Notre Dame students were notified around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday of the discovery of Sharon's body in a prerecorded phone message sent to the entire campus by Father Edward Malloy, University president.
At the press conference, Malloy expressed concern on behalf of the University for Sharon's parents, Steve and Jane Sharon. "I think the entire Notre Dame community is really saddened by the news today," said Malloy. "We want to express our sympathy to Chad's parents."
Sharon was last seen by friends around 2 a.m. Dec. 12 at a party on Corby Street. He was reported missing by hall staff on Dec. 13 when he did not return to his Fisher Hall residence. Notre Dame Security Police, in conjunction with state and local authorities, began an extensive investigation involving helicopter and dog searches, searches of the river and local area.
NDSP contacted the FBI to investigate possible connections between Sharon's disappearance and the disappearance of male students at other Midwest colleges, although no apparent connections were identified.
As a result of this search, police discovered a Madison Center employee who reported speaking with Sharon at the Madison Street hospital. The employee said Sharon asked for directions to a convenience store and was directed to the nearest 7-11.
In an attempt to draw further attention to Sharon's case, the University announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Sharon's safe return. That reward was eventually doubled on Jan. 29 to $50,000 through the support of 10 local businesses.
Sharon's parents first visited Notre Dame on Feb. 16-17 to meet with investigators and students.
All News Stories for Thursday, February 13, 2003
