Authorities confirmed Tuesday that the body of 31-year-old Cory Dominic Cook has been recovered, ending a multiday search along the Allegheny River near Manor Township in Armstrong County.
Cook’s body was pulled from the Allegheny River around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to a press release by Armstrong County Coroner Brian Myers.
Manor Township Police and the coroner’s office are investigating the incident, the release said.
Darrick Gerano, executive director of Murrysville Medic One, confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the search had ended.
The recovery followed an extensive effort that began Saturday after Cook’s rental car was found abandoned near the Graff Bridge.
Cook, of Avonmore, was last seen Thursday. Family members reported he had been suffering from a mental health crisis at the time of his disappearance.
Gerano said police found strong evidence during their investigation that Cook may be in the river. He declined to share exact details citing the ongoing investigation.
The search involved multiple emergency agencies, utilizing cadaver dogs, side-scan sonar and rescue divers. Crews focused their efforts on the river between Water Street and the Kittanning sewage treatment plant.
A specialized recovery team took over the scene Monday evening, which prompted the temporary closure of the nearby Armstrong Trail.
Gerano said the trail closure was for privacy and safety of the emergency responders.
Crews on Monday were able to pinpoint a location of what responders believed to be the body. However, several factors prevented a positive identification and recovery at the time.
“With the water conditions and the weather, we couldn’t put a diver directly on it,” Gerano said.
He said responders spent hours breaking ice only to have it reform, and there was no visibility in the water.
Dive teams from Murrysville, Blairsville and Lower Kiski responded Tuesday morning, all working in tandem to successfully make the recovery a few feet from the previously marked spot.
“It took everybody,” Gerano said about the coordination with police and other agencies. “Not one team could have gone out there and made this happen.”
