STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. — Just before 2 p.m. on May 1, the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Office received a call from workers on the Mississippi River who discovered a body was floating in the water.
"Some of their deckhands actually located the body floating down the river, secured it for us and brought it to a river landing," Chief Deputy Major Jason Schott said.
The disturbing part is it's not out of the ordinary for the area.
"In the last year, this is probably the second body found. In the last decade, I'd say maybe about 12 (bodies found). It's something we're used to that we know can happen here. And you know, we're prepared for it," Schott said.
Days after the body was found in Ste. Genevieve, the sheriff's office released images to the public for help in identifying the person. With the help of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI, Schott said police identified the person as 23-year-old Darris Moore of north St. Louis.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, there was no missing persons report filed at the time of Moore's death.
5 On Your Side spoke to people who knew Moore, and they said they identified as transgender and went by the name Darri.
Schott said the bodies found recently have floated down the river from north of Ste. Genevieve or were dumped in the river. Causes of death have been across the board, including suicide, undetermined and drownings. Some of the cases even involved foul play.
In Moore's case, Schott said they don't suspect foul play, and the department is still working to find a cause of death.
"Know that we're working on trying to determine a cause of death, and we will work that as long as we can till we exhaust all those leads," Schott said.
Anyone with information about Moore's case or any case in Ste. Genevieve can call 573-883-5820.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic (BRIC) is a community-based clinic in St. Louis that helps people heal after they have been injured by a bullet. The BRIC was established to help people who are discharged from the emergency department after being shot.
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