Update: Sheriff’s office says body found in river was missing 22-year-old

A missing 22-year-old man was found dead in the Walla Walla River on Wednesday morning.

The body of Arcane J. “AJ” Wilkinson was discovered shortly after 8 a.m. by a kayaker, according to the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office.

There was reports of a capsized boat in the river, as well, though his father suspects foul play.

Walla Walla County deputies were helped by Columbia Basin Dive Rescue and Walla Walla County Fire District 5 crews.

Rescue divers found him and brought him to shore by 10 a.m.

The Walla Walla River flows into the Columbia River near Madame Dorion Memorial Park near the junction of Highway 12 and 730 about 20 miles south of Pasco.

AJ Wilkinson disappeared from College Place around Dec. 15 and hadn’t been seen by friends or family since, said the College Place Police Department.

His father, Glendon Wilkinson, told the Tri-City Herald that his son had a troubled past and moved to Washington to find work and to avoid some drug charges in Louisiana.

For much of the time, Wilkinson worked as a cook and managed to stay clear of drugs, Glendon Wilkinson said.

But his father started to believe something was wrong when he stopped hearing from his son in late November.

After receiving a series of strange phone calls from people looking for Arcane, he believed something bad had happened to him.

Investigators have not said if they believe he was in the water for some time. An autopsy is pending.

This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 12:42 PM.