Body Found May Be Missing Soldier

CLARKSVILLE -- A body recovered from the Cumberland River Friday morning was turned over to military investigators who are searching for missing Fort Campbell soldier Jessiah Jameson.

Police would not confirm the identity of the body, but rescue workers at the scene referred inquiries to Fort Campbell's Criminal Investigation Division. Clarksville Police, Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and Fort Campbell are all working on the case.

The body was taken to Fort Campbell for an autopsy to be conducted Saturday morning.

"I think there were some identifying characteristics or marks or tattoos on the body, and so they could have made a preliminary ID at the scene, but to be absolutely safe and sure the body was taken to Fort Campbell," Ted Denny with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department said.

The body was recovered after being spotted by a barge operator on the river that runs through Clarksville.

On Thursday, Army officials at Fort Campbell offered a $5,000 reward for information to help find Jameson.

Jameson was last seen at the Kickers Country Club in Clarksville on Nov. 16. Officials said he had returned from Iraq two days earlier.

Jameson was assigned to a Headquarters Company of the 506th Infantry Regiment.

Jameson's wife, Erin Jameson said her husband had left his car at the club and called a taxi to take him to a motel. She said he was staying at the motel because he had been drinking.

Jameson recently returned to the United States after serving overseas.

Jameson's wife, son, mother and mother-in-law were in the area looking for the soldier who was preparing to move his family to Washington state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.