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Preston drowning victim identified

KINGWOOD — Police have identified a man who drowned Friday in the Cheat River as Jeremy M. Knotts, 24, of Tunnelton.

The incident is still under investigation by the Preston County Sheriff’s Department.

According to post made Monday morning to the Preston County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, deputies were called to the area of 16694 George Washington Highway Friday for a suspicious person.

According to the post, the caller reported a male in the Cheat River acting strangely. Deputies arrived on scene and were directed to the location where the male was last observed.

As they prepared to enter the water when a fishing boat was observed upstream. Deputies were able to get the attention of the fishing boat and were able to board and located the male in the water.

The Preston County Dive Team along with Rowlesburg, Reedsville, and Masontown Volunteer Fire Departments arrived and helped with the recovery. Rowlesburg and KAMP Ambulance services, along with West Virginia State Police and West Virginia Division of Natural Resource officers were on scene assisting as well.