(Police Reports - Photo Illustration/MetroCreative)

PARKERSBURG — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is taking over the investigation of a man’s body that was found floating in the Ohio River on the evening of Dec. 23 around the Interstate 77 bridge near Ohio’s shore.

The deceased’s name was released publicly on Dec. 24 in a Facebook post by the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and was identified as Christopher Wayne Shilling, 45, of Washington County.

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said his office has been in daily contact with the Wood County Sheriff’s Department and is taking over the investigation because Shilling’s vehicle was recovered in the Walmart parking lot in Marietta.

Mincks said Shilling was last seen on Dec. 22 around 2 p.m. on the walking path in that area headed towards Duck Creek. He said his department is looking at all the evidence surrounding this case and is asking for the public’s help with any information they may have.

“We’re asking anyone with any information to please call 740-376-7070 extension 0,” Mincks said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com