Authorities Recover Body From Illinois River Near Tahlequah

Authorities recovered a body from the Illinois River Friday afternoon.

The Grand River Dam Authority said the man likely drowned while swimming near Tahlequah on Thursday.

GRDA spokesperson Justin Alberty reports a woman who was with 25-year-old Jeffrey Harris Porter, said it happened near the War Eagle Floats campground at about 4:45 p.m.

The woman said she went to her car to put something away and when she returned, she found the man's clothing on the shore and he was nowhere to be seen.

The GRDA, along with the Scenic Rivers Commission and members from the Illinois River Fire Department and Welling Fire Department conducted a search of the creek.

They found his body Friday afternoon.