Week-long search for missing Castleberry man ends with his body found in the river
Robinson
The body of 62-year old Ricky Robinson was located Friday morning in the Conecuh River about a quarter of a mile down stream from where he reportedly went under water near McGowin Bridge last Monday.
Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said Robinson's body was discovered by a sheriff's department search team. Jackson said no foul play is suspected but noted as in all unattended deaths an autopsy will be performed.
Jackson said Robinson, 62, a Castleberry resident, and two other people were at the river on April 29. Robinson and another person swam across the river but had trouble climbing up the bank on the other side. The two then began swimming back to the sandbar, the first person made it back safely but reported Robinson got into distress and went under.
The sheriff's office received a 911 call about 4 or 5 p.m. that Monday of a possible drowning and search teams were dispatched and immediately used sonar and dive teams and began dragging the bottom of the river with no results.
Sheriff Jackson said multiple search teams continued to search the river daily with no results until Robinson's body was found Friday morning.
Jackson said in addition to deputies, the Escambia County (Ala.) Rescue Squad, Monroe County Rescue Squad, the Conecuh County Rescue Squad's dive team, Daphne Search and Rescue and the Baldwin County Search and Rescue Squad's dive team aided in the search.
Jackson added that volunteer firemen from Damascus, Roberts, Dixie and Bradley also helped in the search.
