TIDIOUTE – The remains of a body recovered from the Allegheny River last week have been identified as those of a kayaker who went missing in late January.

The Warren County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of a man recovered from the Allegheny River earlier this week as Jeremiah Smith, who had been reported missing since Jan. 28.

“This brings closure to a difficult chapter for the family and community,” said Melissa Zydonik, coroner for Warren County. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this time of grief.”

No further details will be released at this time out of respect for the family’s privacy.

On April 15, emergency responders were dispatched to a section of the river five miles south of the Tidioute bridge, after a caller reported a body in the water. The remains were recovered with the assistance of the Tidioute Fire Department and Pennsylvania State Police. Following forensic examination and confirmation through dental and medical records, the individual was identified as Jeremiah Edward Smith, 20, of Lakeview, S.D.

Smith was last seen on Jan. 28 going into the river in a kayak. An extensive search was conducted by multiple local and state agencies through the winter and early spring. Weather conditions and river currents had hindered recovery efforts.

Authorities received a PEMA alert at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 reporting a capsized kayak near Tidioute. Emergency responders, including local fire departments, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and other agencies, were immediately dispatched to the scene. Officials have confirmed that the kayaker was not wearing a life jacket,

The search operation faced significant challenges due to the river’s icy conditions and fast-moving currents. According to Tidioute Volunteer Fire Chief Kenny Mack, nearly 100 first responders and volunteers participated in the search effort, scouring both the riverbanks and the water itself. In an effort to locate the missing kayaker, authorities deployed a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter equipped with heat sensors, scanning the area for any signs of life.

“We had nearly 100 volunteers and workers out on the water and along the shore,” Mack told the Times Observer in January. “Crews from Tionesta VFD, Hickory VFD, Glade Township’s Swift Water Rescue Team, Pennsylvania State Police, the Game Commission, and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission were all doing their best.”