On Sunday, the lifeless body of 51-year-old Ryan D. Ford was pulled from the Trent River near the New Bern Grand Marina, turning a tranquil afternoon along the waterfront into the beginning of a death investigation. What had started as a calm day for boaters and visitors shifted abruptly when someone spotted a body floating in the water and alerted authorities.
Police were dispatched shortly after 1:20 p.m. following calls from people who had seen the body in the river. When officers arrived, they learned that individuals nearby had already pulled Ford from the water. The scene behind 100 Sky Sail Boulevard was quickly secured, and emergency responders confirmed that the man was deceased. Authorities later identified him as Ryan D. Ford, a white male in his 50s.
The cause of death has not yet been disclosed by authorities, and preliminary accounts suggest that there were no obvious indicators of what caused Ford to fall into the river. According to the New Bern Police Department, the case has been opened for additional investigation and next of kin are being contacted. Investigators are still collecting information and waiting for new discoveries that might shed light on the situation.
Ford’s corpse was discovered at a private marina in New Bern, according to a different WITN story, and police are still trying to figure out how he got into the water. Around 1:25 p.m., police were summoned, and the investigation is still ongoing as officials look over all the information that is now available.
For the New Bern community, the discovery has been unsettling. The marina, typically a place of leisure and activity, has become the center of a mystery that has left residents with more questions than answers. The absence of immediate clarity has only deepened the concern, as neighbors and visitors alike wonder what happened in the hours leading up to Ford’s death.
As the investigation continues, officials are urging anyone with information to come forward. The Trent River area remains a focal point of attention, and detectives are working to piece together the events that led to a man being found in the water on an otherwise ordinary Sunday afternoon. For Ford’s family, the wait for answers continues, and the community watches closely, hoping for resolution.