Body found in Red River identified as missing 25-year-old Aaron Pigeon

Grand Forks Police confirmed Tuesday the body pulled from the Red River Monday night was that of a man reported missing Sunday, though the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.

Rescue crews found the body of Aaron Pigeon, 25, in the river at about 8:15 p.m. Monday after several hours of searching by land, water and air. Pigeon was initially reported missing to the Grand Forks Police Department at about 10 p.m. Sunday.

Police Lt. Derik Zimmel said investigators have seen nothing that would point to foul play in the man's death, but stressed the case is still under investigation and that could change.

Zimmel said he did not have the preliminary autopsy results Tuesday evening and it was too soon to identify the circumstances of Pigeon's death.

Pigeon was last seen leaving the Level 10 bar in downtown Grand Forks at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, police said. It is unclear why Pigeon left the bar, but the people Pigeon was with had no cause for alarm when he left, Zimmel said.

Police are trying to piece together a picture of what happened after Pigeon left the bar and are looking for anyone who was in contact with him then, Zimmel said.

Zimmel said investigators were trying to obtain footage from downtown video cameras which may have captured Pigeon Saturday night.

Investigators are also looking for electronic evidence, such as Facebook messages and cellphone data, which could shed light on what happened, Zimmel said.

Aside from the river search, police took a number of steps to locate Pigeon, including taking statements from possible witnesses, putting out a description of Pigeon, working with Pigeon's phone service provider to try to locate his cellphone and checking the downtown bars for possible witnesses, including bar staff.

Multiple agencies were involved in the search for Pigeon, including the police department, Grand Forks Fire Department, Grand Forks County Sheriff's Office, Grand Forks Regional Water Operation and unmanned aerial systems teams, according to a news release issued by the police department Tuesday afternoon.

Multiple residents also volunteered in canvassing downtown Grand Forks and the Greenway, the release said.

Police ask anyone who may have seen or talked with Pigeon on Saturday to call the police department at (701) 787-8000, send an email to investigate@grandforksgov.com or send an anonymous tip by texting "TIPSTER" followed by the tip to 84741.