Crime & Safety

State Police Identify Body Found Floating off Ship Bottom as Mt. Laurel Man

Body found near personal watercraft east of Long Beach Island Causeway bridge

The man whose body was found floating near the former Intracoastal Waterway channel that hugs Ship Bottom was identified as a 61-year-old Burlington County man, police said.

State Police Sgt. Julian Castellanos identified the man as John Mee of Mount Laurel. A passing boater discovered his body floating upside down at about 8:20 p.m. Friday, police said.

He was found near an abandoned personal watercraft that was floating near the easternmost bridge of the LBI Causeway in the former intracoastal waterway channel which runs along the middle portion of Long Beach Island's bay side.

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Authorities were at the Ship Bottom municipal boat ramp Friday night after recovering the body.

Ship Bottom police blocked off the entrance to the boat ramp area, which is located just south of the eastbound lanes of Route 72. A New Jersey State Police boat moved slowly toward the dock around 8:45 p.m. and tied up before an ambulance arrived.

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Police vehicles remained at the boat ramp area through late Friday night.


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