Sheriff’s Office identifies body found in the Green River

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Sheriff’s Office Press Release: At approximately 1 p.m. on Oct. 29, Emery County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a call from a man who was floating the Green River stating that he noticed a very decomposed body on the west side of the river.
ECSO personnel responded to Green River State Park and then traveled downriver by boat. The body was located on a sandbar approximately one mile south of the bridge where I-70 crosses the Green River.
It was unclear if the body was male or female. There were no tracks around the body other than animal tracks, and it appeared the body washed up from the river. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. They were able to determine that the body was that of a post-menopausal female.
ECSO Detectives and the State Medical Examiner’s Office are continued their investigations as to cause of death, the circumstances surrounding death and to determine the identity of the deceased. The State Crime Lab assisted in the investigation.
On October 29, the body was been scientifically identified as 48-year-old Michelle Marie Went. Cause of death has not been determined. Went had been living in Green River, with reports of her being seen alive as recently as October 3.
Following the initial news release, calls started coming in from family and friends of missing people. While detectives were following up on those leads, and during the time that the State Medical Examiner’s Office and State Crime Lab were working to identify the body, another call came in from someone who had heard the story. The caller reported not having heard from a friend in some time. Following up on this tip, investigators were able to positively identify the body.
Next of kin have been notified. The investigation is ongoing.