GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A missing father whose body was pulled from the Grand River was murdered, according to a source close to the investigation.
Grand Rapids police Monday identified the victim as Jamel Parker, who was missing for more than a month.
The source tells 24 Hour News 8 Parker was at a house party when a fight ensued. The source said there was a knife involved at some point, but it was unclear who had it.
The source said Parker left the party and ran toward the river. There were also reports of possible shots fired, but that has not been confirmed, according to the source.
Parker was last seen around 3 a.m. on Feb 12, running from the 1500 block of Broadway Avenue NW on the city’s West Side, police said.
Authorities pulled Parker’s body from the river Friday afternoon in the 1500 block of Scribner Avenue NW after someone noticed a body in the water.
There is no evidence his body was in the river the entire time of his disappearance, the source said.
It’s unclear how Parker died; the medical examiner is still awaiting toxicology results.
Authorities currently have no information about any suspects in the case, the source tells 24 Hour News 8.
Parker’s family had recently increased the reward money for information on his whereabouts to $10,000.