Body of swimmer, 16, found in Charles City

The body of a 16-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming in the James River in Charles City County was discovered yesterday afternoon, officials said.

A Chesterfield County dive team recovered the body shortly after noon near the area where the teen was swimming about 100 yards offshore near Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park off state Route 5.

Officials identified the teen as Jack Roosevelt Ross.

His body was found on the river bottom about 19 feet deep, said Michael Walizer, a Charles City investigator.

The teen was swimming toward a fishing pier at the park Thursday about 3:30 p.m. when he apparently became tired and went underwater, Walizer said. His brother jumped into the water from the pier to help, but he could not save him, Walizer said.

The state medical examiner's office is attempting to determine the boy's cause of death.

The Chesterfield team assisted Charles City deputies, Prince George County police and officials from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in the search.

Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or .