PHILADELPHIA, PA – A family in Philadelphia is desperate for answers after their loved one, a missing fisherman, was found deceased in the Delaware River. The victim, identified by family as Darnell Dogan, 42, was discovered by marine units near the Linden Avenue boat ramp in Northeast Philadelphia on Thursday.
Juanita Johnson, the mother of the victim, expressed her grief and shock at the loss of her son. Aerial footage of the recovery operation displays material around Dogan’s wrists, prompting an autopsy and a homicide investigation. “That’s my baby boy. Nothing is going to fix this. Not time. None of that,” lamented Johnson, in the face of the tragedy.
Dogan, who was an ardent fisherman, was reportedly in a group boating on the river on Tuesday night. The details surrounding his disappearance aboard the vessel are unclear. “That’s when family members believe the body, the 42-year-old, either went missing from that location or fell off the boat, we’re not sure,” stated Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
Police were alerted about Dogan’s disappearance by his family on Wednesday afternoon. Following up on the missing person report, detectives interviewed the boating companions of Dogan and plan to re-question them as part of their ongoing investigation.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, which could provide answers to the grieving mother. Johnson and the police urge anyone with information related to the case to step forward.