Clearwater police don't suspect foul play and are asking for the public's help in identifying the body.
By Times Staff Writer
Published March 10, 2004
CLEARWATER - Police are trying to identify a youth whose body was found under a bridge on Clearwater Beach early Tuesday morning.
A police officer making a routine check under the north side of the Clearwater Pass Bridge found the body about 6:40 a.m. Tuesday.
The Medical Examiner's Office told investigators the body is that of a boy, probably between 13 and 17 years old, Clearwater police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.
Police do not suspect foul play but were awaiting an autopsy, Shelor said.
Detectives found no identification with the boy, so they were seeking help from the public Tuesday in finding his family.
Police combed through missing persons reports in Pinellas County and neighboring communities, but found no reports of a missing child that matched the boy's description.
They also put out an alert to regional law enforcement agencies Tuesday, Shelor said.
Police also searched the area around the bridge Tuesday, but found no abandoned vehicles or witnesses who saw the youth before his death. Shelor said the boy probably died late Monday night or in the predawn hours Tuesday.
The youth is a white male with short black hair and hazel eyes. He wore a blue and black short-sleeved shirt over a white T-shirt.
He also wore light-colored cargo pants and black leather lace-up shoes. The clothes appeared to be name brand, Shelor said.
The youth also had a 2- to 4-inch scar on the upper inside of his left knee.
Anyone with information about the boy's identity should call Detective David Dalton at 562-4080.
