The body of a man missing for nearly a month was discovered earlier this week in the Highland Park Reservoir in Rochester, New York, officials confirmed on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as 29-year-old Abdullahi Muya, a local resident who had been missing since February. The discovery led to a temporary boil water advisory, which has since been lifted.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans disclosed the information during a press conference, stating that Muya’s body was found on Tuesday around 8 a.m. As a safety measure, the reservoir was immediately shut off from the city’s water distribution system.
Despite the body being submerged in the reservoir for an extended period, water quality tests conducted by the county have confirmed the safety of the water supply, according to Mayor Evans. The reservoir will only be put back into service after it has been drained and thoroughly cleaned.
The police investigation revealed that Muya entered the gated area of the reservoir on February 24 and tragically lost his life a few days later. No foul play is suspected in his death.
The fact that Muya’s body went unnoticed in the reservoir for nearly a month has raised concerns. Mayor Evans acknowledged these concerns, admitting that he himself is asking the same question. Despite daily inspections and regular patrols by city security and water bureau personnel, including advanced equipment monitoring, there was no indication of any disturbance caused by Muya’s presence.
The reservoir, which is 15 feet deep, contains areas where the view of the bottom can be obscured by reflection waves and shadows, which may have contributed to the body’s concealment. Mayor Evans expressed sympathy for the water bureau team, who found the incident highly traumatic.
In response to this incident, the city is taking steps to implement safeguards to prevent future breaches. The refilling process for the reservoir will occur over the next few months.
The tragic discovery of Abdullahi Muya’s body in the Rochester reservoir has raised questions about the effectiveness of monitoring systems and the need for enhanced security measures. As the city continues its investigation, steps are underway to prevent similar incidents in the future.