Body of missing Benton, Mo., man found in Tennessee River

Southeast Missourian

The Paducah Sun reported that the body of a man formerly of the Benton, Mo., area was found early Saturday morning after a two-day search in the Tennessee River in McCracken County, Ken.

Jeffrey Kirkpatrick, 47, went missing Thursday afternoon after he jumped from a boat into the river and did not resurface. His girlfriend, who was with him at the time, immediately reported the incident to authorities. According to The Sun, his body was found about 6:15 a.m. Saturday in the water close to Owens Island, near the mouth of the Tennessee River about seven miles away from where he went missing.

Emergency workers and the U.S. Coast Guard had been searching since shortly after Kirkpatrick's girlfriend reported the incident.

Kirkpatrick graduated in 1982 from Kelly High School in Benton, Mo., the district confirmed Friday.

Pertinent addresses:

Benton, MO

McCracken County, KY