Body of 33-year-old man found in Cuyahoga River, identified as missing Avon Lake man

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A family is mourning the loss of their son and brother after he was found dead in the Cuyahoga River near the Carter Road Lift Bridge.

According to Cleveland police, the victim was 33-year-old Vincent J. Zimmer.

More than a week ago, his mother, Cathy Zimmer, reported Vincent missing.

A Cleveland Fire Department crew found Zimmer in the Cuyahoga River just after 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

A city worker spotted the body while walking along the Carter Road Bridge.

“The Cleveland Police Department responded along with Cleveland Fire and EMS. Thanks to the help of firefighters from Cleveland Fire and the ambulance service, we were able to recover the body,” says Sergeant Freddy Diaz.

Vincent lived in Avon Lake and police say no one has seen or heard from him since Oct. 21.

In the police report, Vincent’s mother claims that Vincent recently received a $60,000 inheritance from his deceased father.

On Sunday, October 20, Vincent withdrew $5,000 from his bank account.

The last person Vincent’s mother said he dated was his girlfriend, who lives in Cleveland.

Police say they conducted a welfare check at her home but did not find Vincent.

According to the police report, information appeared on social media that Vincent and his girlfriend may have been staying at the girl’s mother’s house.

However, when the police went to check the house, no one answered the door.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office will handle the investigation.

“We learned that it was a missing person from Avon and at this point we are on alert until the DA’s office determines the cause, and once the cause is determined, we can begin to determine who is investigating,” says Sergeant Diaz.