FAYETTE COUNTY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – The National Park Service has confirmed that the body of a man fitting the description of the president of the Norwich Community Development Corporation, Jason Vincent, was found in West Virginia.
The head of the economic development corporation in Norwich, Connecticut, was reported missing last Wednesday. His car was discovered the same day on the New River Gorge Bridge around 11:30 p.m., according to park rangers. The car was found abandoned in the northbound lane, parked to the side, stated National Parks Service Public Information Officer, Leah Perkowski-Sisk.
The National Parks Service and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department searched the area by foot on Dec. 31 and also conducted searches by boat.
According to the National Park Service, the recovery of the body was made on Monday in the New River by the Hawk’s River Nest Damn, which was five miles from the New River Gorge Bridge.
As of Monday afternoon, an official identification from the West Virginia State Medical Examiner’s Office was still pending.
Perkowski-Sisk said foul play is not suspected, and Vincent’s family has been notified. An autopsy is expected to happen in West Virginia.
It is unknown why Vincent was in West Virginia.
“Our hearts and prayers are with Jason’s family at this time,” said Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom, who worked closely with Vincent.
“It’s a huge loss in our community (personally and professionally) he was my friend and a mentor to me,” said Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Angela Adams.
A personal friend of Vincent’s stated the following:
“Jason was a man of integrity, a man of high ideals, and easy to be a friend. He was one of the original people that believed in me as he did with so many others.”
Vincent worked in southeast Connecticut for nearly 20 years. He worked as director of Norwich’s community development corporation since last summer and worked as the town’s planning director in Stonington. He also worked as a partner in Epicure in downtown Norwich.
