Officials rule death suicide by drowning
By:Vanessa S. Holt
BORDENTOWN CITY — The search for a missing city man ended on Saturday when his body was found in Crosswicks Creek by hikers.
The body was identified as that of Kermit Asson, 47, of Willow Street, who had been reported missing by his wife at 3:45 a.m. May 11.
A family hiking in the woods near the Interstate 295 observation point and Duck Island discovered the body in the creek and immediately contacted police, said Chief Philip Castagna.
An autopsy was conducted on Monday by the Mercer County medical examiner, who ruled the death a suicide by drowning.
Mr. Asson had left his house at 7 p.m. May 10 to go for a walk along the railroad tracks, said Chief Castagna.
After Mr. Asson’s wife, Dorothy, reported that he was missing, police began their search on May 11, combing the wooded area on motorcycles, and on Crosswicks Creek in boats. Mr. Asson was reported to have taken frequent walks in the area of the creek and Duck Island.
A dive team from Willingboro joined police in the search late Thursday, searching the creek until about 2 a.m. They returned on Friday morning with state police Marine Bureau divers, but were unable to locate a body in the water.
On Friday, Bordentown Township Detective Sgt. Jeff Pippin was also called in to join the search with his tracking dog, “Boomer,” to try to pick up a scent using a pillowcase from Mr. Asson’s house.
The bloodhound tracked the scent to an area at Duck Island in Hamilton Township. The location was in the same area that the body was eventually found, said Chief Castagna, but it may have been tangled in debris at that time. The search was also hindered by the changing tides and fast current of the creek.
Mr. Asson is survived by his wife and three children, ranging in age from 8 to 11, said Chief Castagna. The chief said Mr. Asson suffered from undisclosed medical problems.
Chief Castagna expressed thanks to Hope Hose Rescue Squad and EMS Chief Steve Scholey, as well as the Consolidated Fire Company, Willingboro Rescue Squad, State Police Marine Bureau, and Detective Sgt. Jeff Pippin for their assistance in the two-day search.