Palm City: Body of missing rower found

Palm City: Body of missing rower found

Palm City, Fl (treasurecoast.com)-The body of missing rower Stephen Crouch, 71, last seen leaving the Treasure Coast Rowing Club, was found Saturday not far from where his 27-foot rowing vessel turned up, Crouch’s brother said Monday.

Martin County Sheriff’s officials reported last week they were helping the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in searching for Crouch, of Palm City.

He last was seen about 6:45 a.m. on Jan. 13 leaving the rowing club facility at Charlie Leighton Park, the sheriff’s office said. He headed south.

Crouch’s brother, Don Crouch, 74, on Monday said the younger Crouch was found Saturday about 200 feet from where the boat was recovered.

Carol Lyn Parrish, FWC spokesperson, said via email that FWC and the sheriff’s office on Saturday recovered the body of a male in the St. Lucie River. Identification of the body is pending from the medical examiner’s office.

The recovery was not publicly disclosed by FWC until Monday. Parrish did not immediately respond to questions.

Don Crouch, of Islamorada, said Stephen Crouch was the middle of three brothers.

Stephen Crouch retired from the Northrop Grumman Corporation after a long career as an aeronautical engineer, his brother said. He was married and had a daughter.