A body found in a creek near Dow Lake off U.S. Route 50 has been identified as Sammie Steven Donato, of Mount Orab, Ohio, a town about 40 miles east of Cincinnati. He was 22.
The body was first found Thursday when Athens County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene after someone passing by reported a possible missing person. The passerby had found personal belongings — identified as a book bag by authorities — along the roadway near the Dow Lake Dam.
After conducting an investigation, the Sheriff’s and the Athens County Coroner’s offices identified the body as that of Donato, who was on a walking trip from his Mount Orab home to the East Coast. He has apparently completed many long walking trips in the past. He had no set destination or timeframe for completing the trip, authorities said.
Athens County Interim Replacement Sheriff Rodney Smith said Donato had no connection to Athens, other than his walking through the area.
“According to what we heard from the father, once in the spring he walks from Cincinnati up through the east coast,” Smith said.
“That was just something he did.”
There was no evidence Donato was involved with drugs or suffered from any mental health issues, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office.
There are two theories in play, according to the release. One claims Donato had entered the water on purpose to recover items he had been carrying. The other claims he fell into the stream by accident after being overcome by the colder temperatures and force of the stream current.
Donato’s body was tangled in a large tree that fell across the creek, ultimately causing him to be overcome by the water.
The final cause of death and coroner’s report is not complete. It typically takes eight weeks after submission to be completed.
Because the final report is not available, Smith said he couldn’t confirm or deny if foul play had occurred; however, Capt. Bryan Cooper said he is comfortable saying no foul play occurred.
Preliminary autopsy and investigative notes were not provided to The Post as of press time. Citing Ohio law, the newspaper submitted a public records request to the Montgomery and Athens County coroner’s offices Tuesday seeking that information, as well as suicide notes or photographs of the decedent made by the coroner or by anyone acting under the coroner’s discretion or supervision.
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