RUSSELL, Ky.

Sunday, July 29, 2001

RUSSELL, Ky. – The body of the man who jumped from the Ironton-Russell Bridge Wednesday night in an alleged act of suicide has been recovered from the Ohio River – about one-half mile from the point he plunged to his death.

The Russell Police Department has identified the man as Vernon L. Chandley, 36, from Raceland, Ky. He was pulled from the river Friday at 9:48 a.m. by barge crew members on the "Nancy Sturgiss." The barge workers notified the U.S. Coast Guard upon discovering Chandley’s body.

Rescue workers were unable to locate the man after he jumped. Crews were in the river late Wednesday night searching the water for the man’s body. Thursday’s search efforts were prohibited by inclement weather and a heavy river current.

Chandley’s body was taken to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy.