MARIETTA — The body of 73-year-old Coal Run farmer Jerry Witten was located in the Muskingum River on Monday afternoon, four days after he went missing.

“Everything’s matching the missing persons report right now but we’ll still send for DNA,” said Chief Deputy Mark Warden of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Warden said Witten, who originally was from Monroe County, was found by an area resident Monday from the western bank of the Muskingum River around the Rainbow area between Lowell and Devols Dam.

Lowell Fire Chief Josh Harris said the search for Witten since Friday has combined the efforts of his department with the sheriff’s office, law enforcement from Morgan, Monroe, Noble and Meigs counties and the Williamstown, Stockport, Marietta, Reno and Warren fire departments.

“Even an independent pilot was flying, out looking over hundreds of acres,” Harris said.

Warden said he had been in contact with the surviving Witten family concerning Jerry Witten’s location.

“We are in need of that power of prayer,” said Julie Witten before the patriarch of the four-generation family farm was found Monday.

Jerry Witten was the patriarch farmer of the Wittens Farm Market chain with ties across Southeast Ohio. Daughter Julie said Jerry was born in Monroe County and spent his early life there.

Reports indicate that Jerry Witten left his residence on Ohio 60 in Coal Run between 7 and 8 a.m. Thursday.