The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division and Dive Team Tuesday reported they have recovered the body of a Colorado man from the Kalamazoo River. Michael Joseph Baird, 34, from Engelwood, CO, was visiting family in the Plainwell area when he was reported missing and presumed to have drowned after falling into the river April 6 in Plainwell.
After an extensive search, public safety divers located Baird’s body approximately 1.2 miles downstream from his last seen point in an area west of 12th Street in Otsego Township, the news release said.
A pathological examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death, however at this time all indications lead investigators to believe this was an accident and that Baird succumbed to cold water temperatures and hydrology leading to his drowning in the river.
The sheriff’s office was assisted in the search by the cadaver dog K-9 team from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, who had assisted in the search for Baird over a week ago.
Also assisting in the search over the last two weeks were dive team members of the Kalamazoo County Recovery Team and the Otsego Fire Department.
