Couple says man's body should have been found weeks earlier

WEST ALTON, Mo. -- A man whose body was found in a submerged car could have been recovered a month sooner, said an Illinois couple who reported the car to an officer weeks ago.

The St. Charles County Sheriff's office identified the man whose body was found Friday in West Alton in a waterway near the Mississippi River as Edward Johnson, 50, of the St. Louis suburb of Moline Acres.

He was missing for eight months. Police believe he died when his car, a blue Ford Contour, ran off the road and do not suspect foul play. The car had a blown-out front tire, but no other damage, said Gerry Pollard of the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department.

However, an Alton, Ill., couple said they called police twice more than a month ago to report the car in the water.

The St. Charles County deputy who responded to the second call did not notify the Missouri State Water Patrol or talk to his supervisor about the car, the sheriff's department said Friday. The department is investigating.

David Halm, 33, said he was in his boat fishing on June 28 when his motor hit something in the water. He saw that it was a car and later called police. He said the dispatcher said she would send an officer to the area.

Johnson was last seen at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles on Dec. 6. His family reported him missing five days later.

Police said Johnson's family told them he often went to the Alton Belle Casino, just across the river from where the car was found.