BASSETT, Va. – A body found floating in the Smith River in October has been identified as a missing man who suffered from dementia. DNA was used to identify the remains of 67-year-old Edward Harrison Ariail, who was found floating face down in the river on the morning of Oct. 29. A motorist made the discovery and phoned the Martinsville-Henry County 911 center.

The body was pulled from the river and taken to the chief medical examiner’s office for identification and to determine the manner of death. Preliminary autopsy results showed no apparent signs of foul play or homicide. Investigators note that Ariail suffered from dementia and was last seen on Oct. 23, 2020. His family had contacted the High Point Police Department to report him as a missing person.

The High Point Police Department subsequently issued a Silver Alert for Ariail.

Henry County Sheriff’s deputies recovered Ariail’s car in the 2700 block of Fairystone Park Hwy in Bassett.