Body found in St. Johns County pond ID'd as missing man

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A body found Tuesday morning in St. Johns County was identified as a man who went missing over the weekend, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Arthur Charles Wagner III, 20, was reportedly last seen Saturday on a yellow dirt bike in the area of Wildwood Drive, which connects State Road 207 and U.S. Highway 1.

Wagner's body and motorcycle were found about 5 a.m. Tuesday in a retention pond near where he was last said to have been seen. An autopsy found the cause of death was drowning.

The Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit discovered what appeared to be a petroleum-based film on the pond while searching for Wagner late Monday evening. Investigators went to the site and found what appeared to be motorcycle tracks near the edge of the pond.

Sheriff's Office spokesman Chuck Mulligan said no foul play is suspected at this time.

"Everything that we know, the background is that the individual was despondent over some things in his personal life and left on his motorcycle, left in a manner that was not normal for him, leaving behind some things that he would always, generally, have with him," Mulligan said. 

Since the discovery, a small sign next to the pond has become a makeshift memorial.

“Devastating, heartbreaking. I was just so in hopes that it wasn’t him," said a woman named Gail who lives next to the pond. "It’s devastating for the people. They’re heartbroken and in tears.”

Throughout the day, loved ones of Wagner stopped by the memorial. One friend, who left a camouflage cap on top of the sign, said he needs time to heal. One woman who knew Wagner as a child asked for prayers for the family.


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