An 86-year-old Riverdale man who was the subject of a recent Silver Alert has been found dead in the Weber River. Edward Bovero, whose disappearance prompted widespread concern given his age, physical state, and dependency on oxygen, was found submerged in the river late Monday afternoon.
According to ABC4, the Riverdale Police Department did not suspect foul play in Bovero's death, and a Silver Alert was issued at approximately 12:45 p.m. Monday after he was last seen leaving his home that morning. Police Chief Casey Warren, in a statement obtained by KUTV, expressed his sorrow to the family, saying, "I want to tell them how sorry we are that it ended this way. I am grateful that we were able to recover him as quick as we could, but again, we're really sorry with the outcome."
Search efforts focused on the area close to the Weber River Trail, a known favorite spot of Bovero's, said Warren. Family members had voiced concerns due to the incoming weather and Bovero's medical needs, specifically his lack of oxygen support when he left home.
The Weber County Search and Rescue Team, along with the Riverdale police, conducted an hours-long search before discovering Bovero. The swift efforts of these teams were acknowledged by the Riverdale Police Department, which offered both condolences to the family and gratitude to the search teams, as reported by ABC4. The search was complicated by the river, which officials on the scene, told Gephardt Daily, was running faster and higher than usual due to spring runoff. The officials also cautioned the public about the increased danger posed by the river's conditions.
