Body recovered from St. Joseph River in Niles

Autopsy scheduled after discovery by passersby on Sunday

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Niles Police Department responded to a report of a body spotted in the St. Joseph River on Sunday afternoon. Officers recovered the body, later identified as 59-year-old Michael Allen Witt of Niles, and an autopsy is now scheduled to determine the cause of death.

Why it matters

The discovery of a body in the river raises concerns about public safety and potential foul play, though police have not yet indicated any obvious signs of the cause of death.

The details

Two people walking along a path on the east side of the St. Joseph River called 911 around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday to report seeing a body in the water. Police responded to the area between the Broadway and Main Street bridges and were able to recover the body, which was just under the surface of the water, with assistance from the Niles Fire Department.

  • The 911 call reporting the body was received around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • The autopsy is scheduled to be performed at the Western Michigan University medical school in Kalamazoo.

The players

Niles Police Department

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the report of the body in the river and recovered it.

Niles Fire Department

Assisted the police in recovering the body from the St. Joseph River.

Michael Allen Witt

The 59-year-old Niles resident whose body was recovered from the river.

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What’s next

The autopsy will now be performed at the Western Michigan University medical school in Kalamazoo to determine the cause of death.

The takeaway

This tragic discovery raises concerns about public safety and the need for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident in the Niles community.