The search for the bodies of two missing Oakfield men who presumably mistakenly jumped into the Genesee River will continue this week, according to the lead investigator on the case.
Senior Investigator James J. Newell of Rochester, Troop E, said with the water temperature still low, it's harder to locate the bodies of the two men, but as it warms up later this week, the State Police helicopter will conduct an air reconnaissance.
David King, 54, and Michael King, 46, have been missing since Feb. 19.
Newell said investigators do not suspect foul play and there has been no activities on the cell phones, debit cards or bank accounts for either brother since then and nobody has reported seeing them.
The brothers went missing after David left Strong Memorial Hospital following an a minor accident on the I-390.
David was charged with reckless driving after his car hit a guard rail.
He was transported to the hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries. David's brothers Michael and Daniel picked him up and drove him back to his car on the I-390.
Newell said Daniel has been interviewed numerous times and his story has remained consistent. He dropped off his brothers and watched them run and jump over the jersey barrier. He didn't see them after that and tried calling their mobile phones several times.
"They checked out of the hospital at 9:03 (p.m.) and there was cell phone activity shortly after that and then none," Newell said. "That would be consistant with their phones going dead."
Newell said the evidence available so far is consistent with the theory that the brothers jumped the barrier without being aware of the river below.
"If you go to that spot at night and there's no street lights, you might think you can jump the jersey barrier and take five or six steps and make it to the other side," Newell said. "You wouldn't realize there's a 70- to 100-foot drop to the river."
Troopers have deployed the helicopter, sonar and divers in an effort to locate the King brothers, including a two-day search with divers, and all search results have been negative, Newell said.
