Officials: Missing CDC Scientist Drowned, No Signs of Foul Play

Atlanta authorities said Thursday that the body of missing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist Timothy Cunningham was found in a river—and there are “no indicators of foul play.” At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Major Michael O’Connor noted that “things are fluid, things can change.” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jan Gorniak said that Cunningham’s cause of death was drowning, but could not say whether it was an apparent suicide. Dr. Gorniak added that she’s still waiting for the results of a toxicology test. Cunningham’s body was discovered by people fishing along the Chattahoochee River, in an area that was “difficult to access” and “inaccessible” by walking trails, according to Sgt. Alex Hofstadter and PIO Cortez Stafford. The 35-year-old epidemiologist was wearing his favorite jogging shoes and had collectable rocks in his pocket, according to O’Connor. Stafford noted that law enforcement did search the river on Feb. 23, but couldn’t find his body. Cunningham went missing in mid-February with his ID, keys, wallet, and dog still at home.