Body found in Passaic River confirmed as that of missing Wall Street Journal reporter

LONG HILL, N.J. -- Authorities have confirmed that a body found in the Passaic River Wednesday is that of missing Wall Street Journal reporter David Bird.

Bird, 55, had been missing since January 2014.

He was last seen at his residence in Long Hill Township, in Morris County and regularly walked the trails in Hick's Tract in Millington section of Long Hill.

Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Long Hill Township Police Chief Michael Mazzeo said identification was made through dental records.

At this time, the Medical Examiner's investigation into the cause and manner of death is ongoing.

On Wednesday at about 5 p.m., two men canoeing in the Passaic River came across a red jacket located near branches.

They immediately notified Bernards Township Police Department. Police later determined the existence of human remains and a multi-agency recovery operation began.

According to a website launched by Bird's family, Bird went out for a walk on Jan. 11, 2014, after helping family members take down Christmas decorations and never returned. He was wearing a red raincoat at the time. Dozens of law enforcement agencies were involved in the search over the last 14 months, from local police to the FBI.

Bird was a liver transplant recipient and didn't have his medication with him when he left the house, his wife, Nancy, said at the time.

Bird had worked for the Journal's publisher, Dow Jones & Co., for more than 20 years.

(Some information from the Associated Press.)