Still no positive ID on body recovered from Tennessee River

Jan. 22– Authorities are waiting for a positive identification of a body thought to be that of a man last seen alive leaving his home in Corinth, Miss., on Jan. 8, according to Hardin County Sheriff Sammy Davidson.

Christopher Richards Bonds, 37, was believed to have been distraught and would possibly harm himself, the Daily Corinthian newspaper reported.

Davidson said the silver 2010 Toyota Camry that Bonds was driving was found Wednesday in the Tennessee River at the edge of the Catfish Hotel’s parking lot in the Shiloh area. A body believed to be Bonds was inside.

"It’s pretty certain that it’s him," he said.

Family members retained EquuSearch, a Texas organization dedicated to search and recovery operations, which located the vehicle.

EquuSearch Director Tim Miller said the organization managed to find the spot by tracking Bonds’ cell phone to a cell tower four miles away.

"The thing that led us there was the last phone call he made," Miller said, and searchers then used sonar aboard a boat to determine the exact location.

Also involved in the search were the Hardin County Fire Department, Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, TVA Police and Mississippi authorities.