QUITMAN, GA. (THECOUNT) — Former Brooks County High School Trojans varsity athlete, IJonn Parrish, of Quitman, GA, has been identified as the body found floating in the Withlacoochee River last Thursday.
Police say, Parrish, 22, was pulled from the Withlacoochee River near Valdosta, GA, Thursday, Dec. 13, following a possible drowning, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced on Tuesday.
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Parrish was the subject of a Dec. 8 Brooks County traffic stop where he allegedly provided false information to police and then fled the scene on foot after officers attempted to detain him, according to reports.
“Parrish provided a false name to the trooper when asked of his identity,” Steinberg said. “It was determined that Parrish was not the person he said he was when the trooper ran the vehicle registration and name provided by Parrish. The trooper then attempted to place Parrish under arrest and he resisted and fled on foot from the scene,” according to the GBI statement. source
Officers searched the area but could not locate the suspect.
“Authorities found clothing along the river bank and assumed the man attempted to swim across the Withlacoochee. The river was high from recent rains, the sheriff said at the time.”
Officials continued searching the river that runs along the Lowndes-Brooks county line.
Parrish’s body was located after noon on Thursday near the Brooks County side, the official said. Police say the victim was recovered from the river off of Highway 94 and Georgia 133 in Brooks County, according to the GBI.
“The autopsy showed no injuries to Parrish during the examination,” according to the GBI statement. “The exact cause of death was not relayed to GBI agents conducting the investigation due to pending toxicology and other tests being performed to determine the cause of death.”
The GBI will give the case to the Southern District Attorney’s Office once the investigation is complete, he said.
According to his Facebook page, Parrish studied at Valdosta State University and attended Brooks County High School. He was originally from Miami, Florida, according to Facebook.
Friends and family members took to Facebook to remember he beloved young man:
Anyone with information on the deadly incident should contact police at 911.