Little Rock police: Body found in Arkansas River identified as missing man

Brennen "Bryn" Willis
Brennen "Bryn" Willis

3:20 P.M. UPDATE:

The man found in the Arkansas River behind the Marriott hotel in downtown Little Rock on Monday afternoon has been identified as Brennen Willis, a 28-year-old who was visiting town for a wedding.

Little Rock police spokesman Steve Moore said authorities received a call about 1:15 p.m. from someone who had seen a body floating in the river from one of the hotel’s windows.

Police identified Willis from an ID card on his person, Moore said. He was still wearing the green shorts he was last seen in, according to the spokesman.

Moore said Willis’ family and friends had been searching the area all morning, some walking along the riverbank and some in boats.

The 28-year-old from O’Fallon, Ill., was last seen around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a flyer posted by the Little Rock Police Department.

Willis was visiting Arkansas' capital city for a wedding, family members said.

According to a Facebook page set up after his disappearance, Willis left Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Little Rock for a jog. He reportedly posted a Snapchat story around 11:30 p.m. near Robinson Center.

“Bryn is a son, a brother, an uncle and a beloved friend,” one post reads. “Please help us bring him home.”

That page, Missing - Bring Bryn Willis Home, had more than 4,700 followers as of Monday morning.

It was not clear how long Willis had been in the river.

photo

A body was recovered from the Arkansas River in Little Rock on Monday, May 21, 2018.

EARLIER:

Authorities were working to recover a body from the Arkansas River in Little Rock on Monday afternoon.

According to a tweet from the city's Police Department, officers and the Little Rock Fire Department were on the scene behind the Old State House around 2:30 p.m. The body was said to be of a white male.

The Old State House is near the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Little Rock, where Brennen “Bryn” Willis, 28, of O’Fallon, Ill., was last seen around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Authorities had not identified the body as of Monday afternoon.

Arkansas Online reporter Brandon Riddle contributed to this report.

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