Body found in Mill River identified

New Haven, Conn. (WTNH) - Police have identified a man whose body was pulled from the Mill River in New Haven Saturday.

When the body was pulled from the water a New Haven family says their worst fear was confirmed, but the discovery doesn't answer the questions nor the mystery of what happened.

The body found in the river, behind Wilbur Cross High School by East Rock, had a wallet in the pants pocket, which brought a knock on the door of a family that had been waiting weeks for word about 27-year-old William Young.

"The body that they found in the water they found a wallet in the pocket and it was William Young," said Joseph Payne, family friend.

Young was reported missing on January 5th, after his mother said he went to meet someone near the library downtown and had not been seen or heard from since.

Young's family launched their own search around the city, but never found any sign of him.

"It's been hell," said Joseph Young, brother, "everyday we're wondering if he's going to come through the door. Every knock, is it him? Every phone ring, is it him?"

William Young was positively identified after an autopsy Sunday morning. After preliminary investigation, police said there was no trauma to the body and they are treating the case as an accidental death.

"When you have someone that close to you," said Joseph Young, "you feel it in your heart if something is wrong and we felt something was wrong."

The family has not yet made funeral or burial arrangements.