Body located in river determined to be missing 63-year-old Massachusetts man

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Environmental Conservation Police have positively identified a body recently located in the Connecticut River as a missing Massachusetts man.

On May 9, 2026, at just before 12:30 p.m., a vessel reported seeing a body in the Connecticut River in the area of the Chester-Lyme Ferry.

EnCon Police and Connecticut State Police responded, along with the Lyme and Chester Fire Departments. Chester Fire Department was able to locate and recover the body using their fire vessel where they pronounced the person deceased.

The identity of this person was not immediately known.  EnCon Investigators were able to match known records to an individual who was reported as missing from Massachusetts. Massachusetts State Police were contacted and provided records to the State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The OCME positively identified the individual as 63-year-old Donald Plasse from Holyoke Mass.

Plasse went missing on January 13, 2026, following an incident at Mueller Bridge on Route 202 in South Hadley. Investigators with the EnCon Police are assisting Massachusetts State Police with their investigation.

The DEEP Encon Police extended their condolences to Plasse’s family and loved ones.