Man's body found in Catawba River days after chase in Burke County

BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — Emergency crews have found the body of a missing man in a river nearly a week after he was involved in a chase in Burke County.

Deputies identified the person as 32-year-old Douglas Allen Cox.

(Douglas Cox)

The Burke County Sheriff's Office said Cox's sister Melissa Prather had filed a missing person's report Thursday after she had not heard from him since Monday, Jan. 21.

Officials said during the investigation, deputies learned Cox was involved in a chase Monday with the McDowell Sheriff's Office that ended in Burke County.

Cox then jumped from the vehicle and ran toward the Catawba River. Officials said multiple agencies tracked Cox to the river, but were unable to find him.

Emergency management crews found Cox's body in the river Saturday afternoon following a search of the area where he was believed to have entered after the chase.

The medical examiner said Cox likely died from an accidental drowning combined with hypothermia.

Agencies involved in the incident were the Burke County Sheriff's Office, Burke County Emergency Mangement, Burke County Rescue Squad, McDowell County Sheriff's Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

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