Riverdale man, 86, found dead in Weber River after Silver Alert issued

RIVERDALE, Utah (ABC4) — An elderly man was found dead on Monday, several hours after he was reported missing and a Silver Alert was issued for him.

Edward Bovero, 86, was found “deceased submerged in the Weber River” on Monday afternoon. While the cause of his death is still under investigation, the Riverdale Police Department said foul play is not suspected at this time.

Bovero was located after an hours-long search. Riverdale police and the Weber County Search and Rescue Team searched in the area around Riverdale Parkway and the Weber River after the Silver Alert was first issued.

On Monday, March 31, a Silver Alert was issued for Bovero around 12:45 p.m. The alert said Bovero was last seen leaving his home in Riverdale on foot around 5 a.m. that morning.

According to the alert, his last contact with family members was on March 30, and it was unknown where he may have been heading. According to police, relatives said they were concerned for Brovero’s safety because of the weather and other factors, including his age and physical state.

“Riverdale Police Department expresses our deepest condolences to the family,” police said in an updated press release Monday. “Special thanks to the Weber County Search and Rescue team for their assistance.”

The Silver Alert was canceled shortly before 8 p.m. on Monday.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing.

Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

• Full name or nicknames.
• Recent photos.
• Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.
• Gender/sex.
• Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).
• Date of disappearance.
• Medical conditions.
• Last known location.
• Social media accounts.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888
• National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): 833-872-5176
• National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
• StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483