Body of missing Md. man found along upper Chesapeake

Montgomery County map(WTOP)

WASHINGTON — The body of a missing Montgomery County, Maryland man has been found where the Sassafras River empties into the Chesapeake Bay on the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Friends of the man tell WTOP he’s 50-year-old George Barnes, who owned Dedicated Fitness Personal Training in Germantown.

Police say Barnes and some friends had left a marina in Georgetown, Maryland, to spend the day on the waters of the Sassafras River.

Candy Thomson with Maryland Natural Resources Police said everybody “minus someone watching the boat” jumped into the water to swim.

“When they all went to get back on [the boat] they realized the victim was missing. They jumped back in the water to search for him. They could not find him,” said Thomson.

Thompson told WTOP that Barnes’ body was found about 1,500 yards from shore.

John Domen

John has been with WTOP since 2016 but has spent most of his life living and working in the DMV, covering nearly every kind of story imaginable around the region. He’s twice been named Best Reporter by the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association. 

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