PETERSBURG — While Boone County Water Rescue members continued without success to search the Ohio River for a body Thursday night, police charged a Petersburg man in connection with the case.

        Richard Lambert, 22, was charged with tampering with physical evidence and abusing a corpse.

The Boone County Water Rescue team searches the Ohio River on Thursday near the Boone County-Dearborn County border for a body. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Boone County Police Lt. Jack Banks said the incident, termed a “death investigation by other than natural causes,” unfolded Monday night when Mr. Lambert met an unidentified person in Covington.

        “Somewhere between Covington and Boone County, we suspect that a death occurred,” Lt. Banks said. “We suspect that (Mr. Lambert) deposited the body in the Ohio River.”

        Mr. Lambert was in University Hospital on Thursday night, but police would not comment on why. His condition was not available.

        Police said blood was found in Mr. Lambert's truck. They don't know who the possible victim is, or if Mr. Lambert knew the victim. Police said they suspect the victim is a female.

Lambert

        At a boat ramp in Petersburg, where the search is centered, a trail of what officials suspect is dried blood runs down to the river. There also is what appears to be splatters of blood along the concrete ramp.

        “We found quite a bit of physical evidence,” Lt. Banks said.

        Officials searched the water Wednesday night and until about 3 a.m. Thursday. The search resumed about 1 p.m. Thursday and continued past dusk.

        In a small motorboat, about a half-dozen members of Boone County Water Rescue scoured the bottom of the river with an underwater camera, water rescue Capt. Dale Appel said.

        Searchers covered an area about 120 feet offshore. The river depth was from six to about 20 feet.

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