Body recovered from Des Moines River
August 18th, 2025 by Ric Hanson
(Des Moines, Iowa) – Des Moines authorities recovered a body from the Des Moines River in downtown early Monday morning.
The body was discovered Sunday evening near the Center Street Dam under the Women of Achievement Bridge, according to Des Moines police. Officers and Des Moines fire crews responded around 9 p.m. Sunday, but couldn’t recover the body due to the rapid water flow rate, the close proximity to the dam and darkness.
“The Des Moines Fire Department was able to free the body from the dam and move to a safer position to complete the recovery” around 9 a.m. Monday, according to a DMPD news release.
Police said Sunday that they are investigating a potential connection to a report of a person in the river that officers responded to in the early morning of Aug. 10. At that time, no person was found.
Authorities say they will release an identity once it is confirmed and appropriate family notifications have been made.