CHALMETTE, La. — A body believed to belong to missing 54-year-old Roland Emile Messa was found Friday in the Mississippi River near the end of Saro Lane in St. Bernard community.
The Harahan native had been missing for more than a week after he allegedly drove off the Chalmette Ferry landing and into the river on March 16 shortly before 2:30 a.m.
Eyewitness accounts told the sheriff's office that a white pickup truck was observed sinking in the Mississippi River and that a man was seen swimming from the truck before disappearing underwater.
He never resurfaced.
Video surveillance footage showed Messa as the driver.
The incident initially closed down the Chalmette Ferry as Coast Guard planes and boats searched the area.
The recovered body has been transported to the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office for identification and cause of death pending an autopsy.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, the Criminal Investigations Bureau’s tip hotline at (504) 271-TIPS or 8477, or Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.