UPDATE (7/17/26) – The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man whose body was recovered from the Pigeon River near Newport.
Investigators say 32-year-old Andres Juarez disappeared after going underwater while swimming Wednesday near Pleasant Grove Road.
A dive team found his body about seven feet below the surface later that evening.
Authorities say no foul play is suspected and the case remains under investigation pending autopsy results.
Original Story: COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a person died following a fall into the Pigeon River.
According to the sheriff’s office, emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting that an individual had fallen into the river in the Edwina area.
Authorities quickly launched a search operation involving multiple emergency responders, including dive teams and swift water rescue personnel.
The Cocke County Sheriff’s Office said rescue crews searched the river for approximately two hours before locating the victim.
Officials confirmed the individual was found deceased.
The victim’s identity has not been released pending notification of family members and because the investigation remains ongoing.
The sheriff’s office has not provided additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the person entered the water.
The investigation remains active.
