The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources Police credits a team effort by more than 20 agencies and entities for this week’s successful recovery of the body of a kayaker from the Middle Fork River in Barbour County.
A group of volunteer kayakers also provided crucial assistance by lending their knowledge and expertise in coordination with the search operation, said DNR Police Capt. Stephen Antolini, its on-the-ground leader.
The body of Jamie Lynn Gray, 41, was located on Monday, Feb. 17, on a section of the Middle Fork about 1 1/2 miles from where she was last seen. The Hacker Valley resident was kayaking on Sunday, Feb. 9, in a group of 10 when she capsized.
The kayakers found the body on the riverbank. They and other searchers had begun combing the area downstream from Gray’s last known location after an underwater camera found no sign of her there.