Missing Wall Street Journal Reporter's Cause of Death Determined

Nearly three months after the body of David Bird was found in the Passaic River, his cause of death has been determined.

Bird, of Long Hill Township, was a longtime reporter for the Wall Street Journal who went missing in January 2014, only for his body to be found less than two miles from home 14 months later.

His cause of death was determined to be an accidental drowning by fall, dailyrecord.com reported.

Bird went for a walk on Jan. 11, 2014 in the Millington section of Long Hill Township and never came back. An intensive manhunt went on for months but with no sign of Bird.

On March 18, 2015, two men canoeing in the Passaic River found a red jacket located near branches. The men called police immediately, leading to the finding of Bird’s body in the middle of the Passaic River. He was later identified through dental records.

Pictured: David Bird. Photos Courtesy Morris County Prosecutor’s Office