By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Sunderland, MA) The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has issued a statement regarding the death of Geoffrey Arthur, missing from Sunderland. Arthur was reported missing March 29, and an exhaustive search of the area bore no fruit. Arthur’s body was located by a female kayaker on May 26 along the Connecticut River. The kayaker immediately called 911 and Hadley Police, Hadley firefighters, and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives Unit responded.
While the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, no foul play or criminal activity is believed to be involved at this time. Spokeswoman for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office Laurie Loisel said that the investigation turned up no evidence of foul play or other indications of criminal activity. Questions regarding why Arthur may have been in or around the river and whether friends and family indicated to investigators that the Connecticut River may be part of his whereabouts where not answered at this time. No preliminary cause of death was released.