A dead body found Saturday near the shoreline of a river in Kentucky is believed to be a kidnapping victim who had been held for ransom earlier this week, WLKY-TV reports.
Authorities were alerted to the body shortly before 5 p.m. Saturday near a boat ramp at Shawnee Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
As of early Sunday morning, investigators with Louisville Metro Police had not been able to confirm with absolute certainty that the body is 25-year-old Jermaine Sprewer, the television station reports.
However, LMPD spokesperson Beth Ruoff told the Courier-Journal that based on information gathered from the family and at the scene, police believe the body is Sprewer, who was reportedly kidnapped earlier this week.
The kidnapping may in part explain why investigators suspect foul play in the death.
Crews on Saturday pulled Sprewer’s body from the Ohio River and an autopsy is scheduled for Sunday, WDRB-TV reports.
Sprewer vanished earlier this week after he was last seen Tuesday on Crockett Drive in the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood of southwest Louisville, as CrimeOnline previously reported.
The man’s family later received calls demanding money.”The family received several FaceTime calls from the assailants where they observed Jermaine bound with several guns pointed at him,” LMPD Sgt. Matthew Kennington told WLKY-TV.
“During the calls, a large sum of money was demanded in exchange for his safe return.”
However, since those calls, the family has otherwise not heard from the alleged perpetrators, Kennington told the Courier-Journal. Police have not disclosed publicly how much money the kidnappers sought or whether the family paid any money.
Authorities described Sprewer as a Black man with black hair and brown eyes. He was 5-foot-9 and weighed about 155 pounds. Facebook posts reviewed by CrimeOnline indicate that Sprewer was a father of two young boys.
To report information on the case, call LMPD’s anonymous tip line at 502-574-LMPD (5673).
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to our latest episode below.
[Featured Photo: Jermaine Sprewer/Police Handout]
