Police release name of man whose body was pulled from Des Moines River

DES MOINES, IOWA – Des Moines police have released the name of a man whose body was recovered from the Des Moines River near downtown earlier this week.

Police were first called Friday morning, July 12, for a person struggling in the Raccoon River near SW 2nd Street – just blocks from the mouth of the Des Moines River. Police say the person disappeared underwater and did not resurface. Boats were launched to search the area, but the operation was canceled due to debris in the water.

On Friday, July 13, officers were called to the Des Moines River near SE 6th Street for a body in the water. Authorities were able to launch a boat and recover the body of an adult male.

On Wednesday, Des Moines police identified the body recovered from the river as 39-year-old Christopher Lee Sheets of Des Moines. Police say the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.