FOX 14 TV Joplin and Pittsburg News Weather Sports |Death of man found Tuesday evening ruled accidental drowning

Death of man found Tuesday evening ruled accidental drowning

Preliminary autopsy results show Ronnie J. Genandt, 33 of Joplin, died of an accidental drowning.

Genandt's body was found dead Tuesday evening near Duquesne.

Captain Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office tells us Genandt's brother had not seen him since before Christmas, and his friends hadn't seen him since early January.

Jasper County Sheriff Archie Dunn says a teenager hunting squirrels behind woods off east 7th Street near Duquesne made the discovery.

The man's body was found floating in Turkey Creek run-off water.

It's an area used by hunters with numerous blinds near the creek and even shell casings.

The victim was carrying a friend's wallet.  That friend helped identify the victim after detectives attempted to notify his own family of the death.

Authorities say the water is about four and a half feet deep.