Authorities recovered the body of a 60-year-old Cartersville man from the Etowah River on Sunday afternoon.
Officers responded around 1:40 p.m. on July 5th to the Etowah River Canoe and Kayak Launch Boat Ramp at 1540 West Avenue after a passerby reported finding a body in the water while walking through nearby woods.
The responding officer located the deceased man floating face-down in the river, partially attached to a tree limb. The body showed signs of severe decomposition. The officer noted the man wore blue jeans, shoes, and what appeared to be a white shirt.
Cartersville Police CID personnel, along with fire rescue crews, responded to the scene. Firefighters removed the body from the river. Officials observed that the man’s right hand was missing.
Rescue crews transported the body to a nearby bike trail. Investigators recovered a wallet from the victim’s back pocket, which contained a driver’s license identifying him as Thomas Odis Taylor.
Coroner personnel, along with DNR officers, also responded. Officers secured the area with crime scene tape. They then turned over the scene to the Coroner’s Office and CID for further investigation.
Police have not released additional details about the circumstances of Taylor’s death or the condition of the body. They documented the scene and uploaded the photos to the department’s systems.
This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Cartersville Police Department.