Body of missing Sudanese possibly found

Divers have discovered the body of a man believed to be that of a 23-year-old Sudanese who disappeared in February from a fish-processing vessel in Alaska's Udagak Bay.

The decomposed body of someone believed to be of African descent was found Friday tangled in a mooring-buoy line in about 90 feet of water, Alaska state officials said.

Joseph Arop failed to show up for his 8 a.m. shift on the processing vessel, the Northern Victor, on Feb. 1. An extensive search of the area around the vessel by its owner, Icicle Seafoods; a U.S. Coast Guard sweep by helicopter; and private divers hired by Icicle all failed to locate his body.

While an autopsy has been completed, Alaska state troopers have not yet positively identified the body as Arop's. They say dental records or DNA might be needed.

Alaska Chief Medical Examiner Franc Fallico said the cause of death was drowning and the body showed no evidence of violence.

The body was discovered by a diving crew cleaning up the area around where the Northern Victor had been anchored for the winter, according to public radio station KIAL in Unalaska.

Arop's disappearance had upset many of the vessel's crew, including many of the Sudanese immigrants onboard, who questioned managers about what might have happened to him.

Icicle officials said at the time that they did all they could to find Arop after he disappeared and they believed he could have fallen overboard.

Lornet Turnbull: 206-464-2420 or lturnbull@seattletimes.com