A quiet retention pond on Columbus’ East Side turned into an active crime scene yesterday after a passerby spotted a body in the water, just east of John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The discovery was made in the 300 block of Lake Crossing Avenue, where Columbus Division of Fire crews responded and carried out a recovery operation. Authorities have not yet identified the person or released a possible cause of death.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, which cited NBC4/WCMH-TV, a passerby reported finding the body, and Columbus Fire units handled the recovery at the scene. Detectives with the Columbus Division of Police have taken over the investigation and, as of yesterday evening, were not sharing additional details.
Investigation and recent precedent
This is not the first time a small body of water in central Ohio has drawn law enforcement and coroner attention. Retention ponds and similar spots have been the focus of other recoveries in recent years, including a 2024 case in Grove City where the Franklin County Coroner’s Office assisted after a body was pulled from a pond.
Cases like these often move slowly. Officials typically wait on coroner testing and follow-up detective work before they can say whether a death was accidental or involved foul play.
What comes next
Detectives with the Columbus Division of Police are continuing to gather information and piece together what happened. Authorities plan to release more details once they have them, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
In the meantime, anyone with information or tips is urged to contact Columbus police so investigators can track down every possible lead.
