Police: Body of Butler Woman Found Floating in Pequannock River

Written and Reported By Eric Goodman and Daniel Hubbard.

Authorities have identified a body found floating in the Pequannock River as 64-year old Zeliha Akcay of Butler, Bloomingdale Police announced Wednesday.

Police received a call from a resident who reported seeing a body in the water behind 146 Main Street in Bloomingdale on Wednesday, July 3.

“Upon arrival to the scene the caller advised that what appeared to be a clothed body was seen floating face down in the water moving with the current toward Riverdale,” police said.

Sgt. Ron Frost then found the body only a short distance down the stream behind the Wells Fargo Bank on Main Street in Bloomingdale.

“The body was hung up on a rock formation approximately 20 feet off of the Bloomingdale shoreline,” police said.

A family member identified the body as Akcay who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ptl. Gary Walker and Ptl. Robert Grabowski, members from Butler and Riverdale Police Departments, The Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department, along with the Passaic County Sheriff's Department ID unit were also dispatched and assisted in processing the scene.

“As far as we know the cause of death is drowning,” said Frost.

The state Medical Examiner's Office and the Bloomingdale and Butler police departments are investigating the incident, Frost said.