Body Found in Submerged Car in Rappahannock River

A body found in a submerged car in the Rappahannock River has been identified as Howard Shrieves Jr., an elderly man missing since early Saturday morning.

At 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, a resident reported seeing a car in the river near the Fredericksburg city dock, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction in the case.

The body found inside the car was identified as Shrieves, 80. He had been reported missing Saturday after he didn’t arrive as expected on a trip to Pocomoke City, Md., from his home in Bloxom.

The body was recovered and is being taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond to determine the official cause of death, according to investigators.

Virginia State Police reported Monday that his cell phone was identified in the Fredericksburg area early Saturday morning.

Stafford detectives are investigating why Mr. Shrieves was in the Fredericksburg area and how the car ended up in the river.

If anyone saw Shrieves in the Fredericksburg area from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Monday, Nov. 23, they are asked to call Det. Todd Nosal at 540-658-4492.