Body in Washington River in 2022 identified as missing Georgia man

Authorities in Washington say a body found in a local river in 2022 has been identified as that of a missing 34-year-old man.

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office announced in a press release Wednesday, May 29, that remains found in the Columbia River belong to Pierre Pearson, a native of Georgia.

Two fishermen found the remains near Martin's Bar in Woodland on June 2, 2022, CCSO Criminal Affairs Chief Deputy Troy Brightbill said in the release.

Pearson was not believed to have had a permanent home in Portland, Oregon, before his death, authorities said. He was last in contact with his family in April 2021, more than a year before his body was found in the river.

It is not yet known when and how Pearson died. Authorities said he last contacted his family in April 2021.

The Cowlitz County Coroner's Office, which examined the body, said the remains “showed no signs of trauma,” according to Brightbill.

However, the coroner's office was unable to make a facial identification or collect fingerprints “due to the level of decomposition” suffered by the body. No identification was found with the body either.

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Detectives began working with Othram, a private laboratory in Texas, in December 2022 to identify the man using advanced forensic DNA testing, Brightbill said.

The victim's dental records were later obtained after Pearson's stepmother and father were contacted about the case.

A forensic odontologist then used the records to determine that the remains belonged to Pearson.

“There is no indication that Pearson died as a result of a crime,” Brightbill said. “The investigation will be closed.”

The coroner's office will now work with his family “to return Pearson's remains.”