The body of an unidentified man was recovered from the Hudson River near Battery Park on Monday afternoon, marking the latest discovery of human remains in New York’s waterways. The New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit retrieved the body after receiving a 911 call reporting a person in the water.
First responders located the body around 3:01 p.m. near Battery Park, where the man was found unconscious and unresponsive. Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene following the recovery operation conducted by the NYPD Harbor Unit.
Investigators have yet to determine how long the body had been in the river or if foul play was involved in the death. Police stated that they are currently conducting an investigation to uncover the circumstances of the man’s death. The city’s Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to identify the official cause of death.
The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin and completion of the medical examiner’s identification process. Law enforcement officials are requesting anyone with information related to the case to contact Crime Stoppers, with authorities noting that “all calls will be kept confidential.”
This incident represents the latest in a series of body recoveries from New York area waterways in recent months. The Hudson River and surrounding waters have been the site of multiple similar discoveries, raising ongoing concerns about safety and criminal activity in the region’s maritime areas.
In February, authorities made a particularly disturbing discovery when a body was found inside a suitcase floating in the East River. The suitcase was spotted near Governors Island, prompting members of the NYPD Harbor Unit to recover the case and transport it to Pier 16 on South Street near John Street in Manhattan’s Financial District.
The February case was later identified as the remains of Edwin Echevarria, a 65-year-old man whose body had been dismembered. The investigation led to the arrest of Christian Millet, 23, who was subsequently charged with murder in connection with Echevarria’s death. Law enforcement sources revealed that the suspect had placed different body parts in separate bags before disposing of them in the East River.
Earlier incidents have also demonstrated the complexity of investigations involving bodies recovered from area waterways. In September 2024, another man’s body was discovered in the Hudson River off Riverside Park, with that case presenting additional suspicious circumstances that drew investigative attention.
The September discovery involved the body of an unidentified man believed to be between his mid-30s and 40s, found in the Hudson River at West 79th Street and Riverside Drive around 7:15 a.m. What made that case particularly notable was that the body had been weighed down with stones, leading investigators to treat the case as suspicious from the outset.
The victim in the September case was found wearing clothing, though it remained unclear whether he had suffered any bodily trauma. Investigators in that case also relied on the city Medical Examiner’s Office to officially determine the cause of death while pursuing leads in what appeared to be a deliberate attempt to conceal evidence.
Additional cases have emerged in nearby areas, including a March incident in Hoboken where remains recovered from the Hudson River were later identified as belonging to a murder victim. That case involved Julio Torres, a 23-year-old from Passaic, New Jersey, whose body was discovered near Pier C Park in Hoboken on March 23.
The Hoboken case resulted in murder charges against Erick Fernandez, a 26-year-old Lodi resident and tattoo artist. Prosecutors alleged that Fernandez shot Torres and fled with his personal belongings, including his vehicle, before returning to dispose of the body in the Hudson River. Fernandez faces charges including first-degree murder, multiple weapons offenses, disturbing human remains, and robbery.
The pattern of body recoveries from area waterways has prompted increased attention from law enforcement agencies operating in the region. The NYPD Harbor Unit continues to play a crucial role in these recovery operations, working in coordination with other agencies to investigate circumstances surrounding each discovery.
Authorities continue to encourage public cooperation in ongoing investigations related to bodies found in area waterways. The Crime Stoppers tip line remains available for anyone with information that might assist in determining the circumstances surrounding the Monday discovery near Battery Park or other related cases.
