The Franklin County Coroner has confirmed that a body found in the Scioto River this week is that of as Joey LaBute Jr.
LaBute was reported missing after he was last seen at Union Café in the Short North back on March 5.
The 26-year-old's body was found near the Whittier Peninsula in the Scioto Audubon Metro Park Tuesday afternoon. Dental records were needed to identify LaBute.
The coroner says the autopsy revealed LaBute was “most likely” already deceased when he went into the water
The coroner did not provide any additional details on how LaBute died and police say they are not releasing any further information. The Columbus Division of Police Missing Person’s Unit has now turned over their case to the Homicide Unit which handles all death investigations.
The family of LaBute said his car, apartment and bank accounts haven't been touched since he was last seen.
LaBute was out with his cousin, Kyle Reigle and his wife. Reigle said LaBute parked his car near Thurber Gate apartments before meeting at Union Café. Shortly after midnight, Reigle said he and his wife decided to call it a night.
“We waited around 10 minutes or so and just never saw him again so I started texted him asking him where he was at and just never heard from him,” Reigle said.
The last known message sent from LaBute’s cell phone was sent to a friend that simply read “Jnhstioj.”
Union Café manager Sam Schisler said they had turned over all of their surveillance footage to Columbus Police so they could attempt to find LaBute and who, if anyone, he was with.