The search for a Bridgeville man who disappeared after a concert nearly six weeks ago ended on Monday when a boat operator spotted a body on the North Shore along the Ohio River.

Pittsburgh police identified the man as James Slack, 25, who had been missing since he attended a Dec. 6 concert at Stage AE, less than a half mile from where authorities recovered his body about 1:15 p.m.

"I want to thank everybody for their support through all this," said Laura Slack, 24, his sister. Relatives and friends had mounted a campaign to help find Slack that included social media alerts, a billboard and reward.

"We're going to try to get through this as best we can," she said.

The operator of a RiverQuest boat spotted the body facedown, partially in the water near the Carnegie Science Center. He declined to comment.

Ted Modecki, 61, of Carnegie, who works on the North Shore and had searched the riverbank since he learned of Slack's disappearance, watched authorities retrieve the body.

"I have compassion for the family," Modecki said. "He just disappeared off the face of the Earth."

Modecki said he stopped two police officers passing on bicycles a couple weeks ago and urged them to check the area where Slack ultimately was found.

"I can't believe it," Modecki said. "I knew he was there."

Lt. Kevin Kraus said police and cadaver dogs had searched the area and found nothing. Police found Slack's cell phone and his wallet, with money, on his body.

"We're still trying to determine his activity on Dec. 6 and 7," Kraus said. "We have no idea how he ended up in the river at this point."

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy today to determine how he died. Slack called a friend early Dec. 7 to say he was partying and would find his way home.

Slack lived with his parents, but often visited Pittsburgh for concerts and football games. He worked on barges at Imperial Towing. Relatives described him as a family man who made friends wherever he went.

Friends and strangers posted condolences on a Facebook page created to help in the search. The family had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his safe return, posted hundreds of fliers around the city, and reached out to cities where the band whose concert Slack attended was touring. Lamar Advertising donated a billboard next to Rivers Casino.

"The family suffers," Modecki said. "I've been caught up in it. At least he's found now."



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