Authorities identify body of man pulled from North Oconee River

The North Oconee River as it flows through Athens

By Joe Johnson

The body that was pulled from the North Oconee River on March 10 has been identified as that of 63-year-old Phillip Mark David, according to Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson.

The man was homeless, and his most recent residential address was unknown, he said.

Wilson on Wednesday said that I that David was identified by forensic examiners at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab.

A final determination as to the cause of death was still pending, according to Wilson, who said that he was informed by the Crime Lab that it likely was due to drowning as there was no evidence of trauma to the body.

The body was spotted by a man who was fishing, and it was recovered by county firefighters.