Body found may be New London man

MILWAUKEE - An area family says it believes a body divers pulled from the Milwaukee River Monday is that of a missing New London man.

Friends and family have been searching for 21-year-old Bryan Barker of New London since Friday when he was last seen. Now, they believe their search is over.

Family members say they learned a Milwaukee Fire Department Dive team pulled Barker's body from the Milwaukee River around noon Monday. Barker was a business student at UW Milwaukee.

He was last seen Friday, July 3rd at Sullivan's bar on the 1200 Block of North Water Street, in Milwaukee. That was around 1:00-1:30 in the morning.

Monday divers pulled a body from the Milwaukee River, near the 1400 Block of Water.

Firefighters and police say there is no sign of foul play. Authorities say the recovered body is that of a missing 21-year-old man, but at this point have not confirmed his identity.

The Fire Department says it has not seen recurring problems with Water Street bar patrons getting too close to the river. Firefighters believe this an isolated case.

Barkers family and friends used a Facebook page to aid in the search for their loved one. Search parties, including three Milwaukee area police agencies, began canvassing Water Street and the riverfront at 7:00am Monday.

Now, the page has become a site for condolences. FOX 11 contacted several family members, they were not yet ready to speak on camera.

Milwaukee police have not said how Barker ended up in the river. Officers say the investigation is ongoing.