LONG HILL — Authorities have positively identified the body found in the Passaic River Thursday as David Bird, who had been missing for 14 months.

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Long Hill Township Police Chief Michael Mazzeo made the announcement just after 2 p.m. Thursday.

Dr. Carlos A Fonseca of the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office, and forensic odontologist Mitchell M. Kirshbaum made the identification through dental records, they said. The medical examiner's investigation into the cause and manner of death is ongoing, they said.

On Wednesday at about 5 p.m., two men canoeing in the river came across a red jacket located near branches, the announcement said. They immediately notified Bernards Township Police Department, kicking off an operation involving several agencies from multiple counties, it said.

Bird, a Wall Street Journal reporter, went missing more than a year ago after he left his Millington home on a walk and never returned.



Hundreds of people became involved in the search last year. Rescuers from several area agencies made their way through fields, walked the banks of the Passaic River and knocked on doors throughout Millington and other nearby neighborhoods. State Police flew overhead. County Park police were out on horseback and on ATVs.

Even after a lengthy, massive sweep of Long Hill and surrounding towns, authorities found no trace of Bird. Long Hill police have said the case is still open, and Journal owner Dow Jones and Co. offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his discovery.

Bird, who was the recipient of a liver transplant, needed to take medication twice a day, but he left the medication at home, along with his cell phone.

Fourteen months after his disappearance, David Bird's family members continued their search efforts by launching the Find David Bird website Wednesday.

Family friend Carolyn Buscarino said funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized, and that the Bird family has asked for privacy.

"The Bird family would like to thank the many members of law enforcement, especially Chief Michael Mazzeo and the Long Hill Township Police Department, for their tireless efforts to find David," Buscarino said in a statement. "They would also like to thank the countless friends, neighbors and strangers who have prayed for David and for the family over the past 14 months."

Gerard Baker, Editor-in-Chief of the Wall Street Journal, said, "David Bird was a longstanding and valued member of the Dow Jones newsroom, and we are deeply saddened to learn today of his death. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

According to the announcement of Bird's identification, the agencies involved were: the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, the Long Hill Township Police Department, the Bernards Township Police Department, the Liberty Corner Fire Department, Millington Fire Department, the Parsippany Search Rescue and Recovery Team, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the Morris County Park Police, Berkeley Heights Fire Department, Whippany Fire Department, Boonton Township Fire Department, Morris County Fire Coordinator, Denville Dive Team, Liberty Corner First Aid Squad.

The Whippany Fire Department, Millington Fire Department and Berkeley Heights Fire Department provided boats for the recovery.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.