Foul play not suspected

 

CHESAPEAKE — The name of a man whose body was found Friday under a bridge in Chesapeake was released Monday.

David H. Rakes, 47, was found just after 6 p.m. Friday by two teenage fishermen who were walking under the Sixth Street Bridge.

According to a press release sent by Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless, the man’s body was lying face down in the dirt near a support beam of the bridge and was cold and stiff to the touch with his lower clothing wet to the touch. It had rained the day before. Rakes was fully clothed, wearing blue jeans, a brown sweatshirt and a blue jacket.

There had been a small campfire near Rakes at some point in time, the release stated. There were also food wrappers and water bottles near Rakes indicating he may have been staying in this area. The area was undisturbed with no footprints around the body.

The man’s last known address was 216 16th St. Apt 8, Ashland Ky., but Lawless said it was a possibility that Rakes was homeless.

“According to his mother, he (Rakes) had indicated he had been kicked out or not welcome to stay at the hotel or apartment he had been living at in Ashland,” Lawless said. “She indicated she did not know where he was staying.”

The Lawrence County Coroner’s Office and sheriff’s detectives did not find any indication of foul play concerning Rakes’ death, the release stated.

According to the release Rakes had been known to use drugs and detectives did find three syringes near his body.

The coroner has sent the body to Columbus for an autopsy.