Body found at dock along Merrimack River in Amesbury

AMESBURY, Mass. — Police are investigating after a body was found in the river in Amesbury.

Amesbury police were called to the Merrimack River Wednesday afternoon after a body had been found in the water by a private dock at 2 Pleasant Valley Road.

Susan and Joel Groessel who live at the home said the often have turtles on their property and around the dock, so when they first noticed the floating object they assumed that's what it was.

“Joel said I don’t think it’s a turtle I think it’s a dead body so at that point I did a reverse around and he went and investigated and sure enough that’s what it was," Susan told Boston 25 News/

Investigators said the couple had found the body of an adult white male, but beyond that have not released information about the cause of death, how long the body was in the water or who the man was.

Joel said at first it was difficult to tell if the body was human because he was naked and very sunburned.

“He was face down, I could tell it was human because despite the fact that it was very bloated he had ears, a little bald spot on the back of his head," he said.

Police tell Boston 25 News after the body was found, they have had three missing persons reports filed.

The Groessels say this isn't the first time a body has washed up on their dock. Last November a the body of a man who committed suicide was found there.

Cox Media Group