BODY OF MISSING MAN RECOVERED FROM RESERVOIR

(Finksburg, MD) – Police divers have recovered the body of a missing Baltimore County man who disappeared under the water while swimming with friends Sunday afternoon in Liberty Reservoir.

Dive team members from the Maryland State Police and the Baltimore County Police recovered the body of Justin D. Oliver, 20, of Catonsville, Md., at about noon today. The body was found in Liberty Reservoir in the cove area where the victim was last seen. The body was about 25 feet from shore and had been in an area that was 25-30 feet deep. The victim’s body will be transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Witnesses, who were two friends of Oliver’s, told State Police the three were swimming in Liberty Reservoir about one-half mile from Deer Park Road at the Carroll/Baltimore County line during the afternoon of July 18th. They said Oliver and one of the friends decided to swim across a cove, which was a distance of about 100 yards. The friend made it across, but Oliver said he was having difficulty and turned back toward the shore he departed from before disappearing under the water. His friends tried, but were unable to locate him and called for help.

Searches for the victim began immediately and were conducted Sunday night, all day Monday, and through the morning hours of today until his body was located. Agencies involved in the searches included the Maryland State Police, Natural Resources Police, Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Fire Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore County Fire Department, Gamber Volunteer Fire Department, Sykesville Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester Volunteer Fire Department, Mason Dixon Search and Rescue, and the Baltimore Public Works Department.