Body of Newark man found in Licking River

NEWARK — Searchers recovered on Tuesday the body of a Newark man who fell from his raft on the Licking River two days earlier, though search efforts ended for another man in the Hocking River.

The body of James Michael Krofft, 22, was found about a quarter-mile from where he was last seen Sunday afternoon, according to Col. Chad Dennis of the Licking County sheriff’s office. Krofft’s body was found by emergency responders in about 4 feet of water, though the spot was likely 4 to 5 feet deeper at the time he disappeared because of recent heavy rains, Dennis said.

Krofft and others were floating down the Licking River east of Newark, near Blackhand Gorge, when Krofft fell into fastmoving water. The area is frequented by swimmers and others and is at least 20 feet deep in places on a normal day.

Witnesses told deputies that attempts to reach Krofft were unsuccessful before they lost sight of him in the water.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources crews, deputies with the sheriff’s office and other first-responders searched the area for more than two days using boats, helicopters, sonar and other means.

Family members and friends also gathered in the area, diving below logjams and walking the banks, hoping that Krofft had survived.

Meanwhile, the Athens Krofft Fire Department stopped search efforts on Tuesday in the Hocking River for a missing man identified as Devin Gargia, 27, of Athens. Crews had been searching since around 8 p.m. Saturday when it was reported that Gargia had jumped into the rainswollen river near White’s Mill in Athens.

Crews had been searching for Gargia using sonar, search dogs and rescue divers. The search could resume if additional information or evidence is reported, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Athens Police Department at 740593-6606. The White’s Mill area of the Hocking River is the same area where a kayaker lost his life in July.