Identified! OH - Westerville, Body in submerged car, Hoover Reservoir, Nov'08 - Mohamed Rihani

[MaryLiz]

Police Work To ID Body Found In Submerged Car

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Authorities on Wednesday pulled a car from Hoover Reservoir, and investigators were working to identify a body that was found inside.

The car was spotted about 40 feet from shore by watershed employees who were removing docks near Maxtown and Sunbury roads, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.
Police and dive teams were called to investigate the car, and a tow truck pulled the car from the water shortly after 2 p.m.

More at link..

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/11/05/story_car_water.html?sid=102

 

[lizzybeth]

That's terrible. I'm glad the car was finally found. I wonder how many people in that area have been reported missing that it might be?

 

[MaryLiz]

That's terrible. I'm glad the car was finally found. I wonder how many people in that area have been reported missing that it might be?

I don't know but my first thought was Brian Shaffer, the missing OSU student.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Did Brian have a Honda Civic?

 

[MaryLiz]

Did Brian have a Honda Civic?

I don't know...but whenever a body is discovered in or around Columbus I think of him immediately. This could have been someone who just drove into the reservoir accidentally or on purpose or it could have been someone PUT in the car and pushed in the reservoir. I'm always thinking foul play when it comes to Brian, so that's what made me think of him.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Wow, Tony Luzio did!!

Tony was last seen leaving the party at 4:00AM, presumably to his apartment. That was the last time anyone ever saw Tony Luzio again. His 2004 Honda Civic is also missing and has never been recovered. He disappeared just 15 miles from where Brian Shaffer disappeared.

http://coltonleviclark.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/this-months-featured-case-brian-shaffer/

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/11/05/story_car_water.html?sid=102

 

[MistyM]

Wow, Tony Luzio did!!

Tony was last seen leaving the party at 4:00AM, presumably to his apartment. That was the last time anyone ever saw Tony Luzio again. His 2004 Honda Civic is also missing and has never been recovered. He disappeared just 15 miles from where Brian Shaffer disappeared.

http://coltonleviclark.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/this-months-featured-case-brian-shaffer/

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/11/05/story_car_water.html?sid=102

also from the first article:

In November of 2005 29-year-old Mohamed Rihani also disappeared in the same close proximity after leaving his residence in the vicinity of Riverview Drive and Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio. He too was driving a Honda Civic, black in color. Both he and his vehicle have vanished.

the car in the picture looks black.

 

[MaryLiz]

Wow, Tony Luzio did!!

Tony was last seen leaving the party at 4:00AM, presumably to his apartment. That was the last time anyone ever saw Tony Luzio again. His 2004 Honda Civic is also missing and has never been recovered. He disappeared just 15 miles from where Brian Shaffer disappeared.

http://coltonleviclark.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/this-months-featured-case-brian-shaffer/

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/11/05/story_car_water.html?sid=102

OMG! You're right...I didn't even think of Tony right away...Thank you so much for looking into that!

 

[AmandaBrown23]

It really makes you wonder how many of our missing have ended up like this.

 

[MaryLiz]

also from the first article:

In November of 2005 29-year-old Mohamed Rihani also disappeared in the same close proximity after leaving his residence in the vicinity of Riverview Drive and Olentangy River Road in Columbus, Ohio. He too was driving a Honda Civic, black in color. Both he and his vehicle have vanished.

the car in the picture looks black.

Wow, it very well could be him too. You're right, the car they pulled from the reservoir does look black.

 

[MistyM]

its probably one of these guys. i'm sad for them, and sad for their families. i can imagine it must be harder to wonder what happened to them than to finally find out. either way it's so terribly tragic.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office said Luzio was driving a silver four-door 2004 Honda Civic with license plate number DCA 5615.

http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/case.cfm?id=33742

 

[SeriouslySearching]

An accidental drowning death is still tragic for the family, but I would prefer it over knowing my relative had been murdered. Bless this family as they hopefully find a sense of closure and peace in the days ahead.

 

[MaryLiz]

TiaDaxxy1980 just posted this on Brian Shaffer's thread. The car is registered to Mohamed Rihani who disappeared in 2005.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/05/hoover.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

 

[MistyM]

TiaDaxxy1980 just posted this on Brian Shaffer's thread. The car is registered to Mohamed Rihani who disappeared in 2005.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/05/hoover.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101

well at least his family can give him a proper burial. i can't imagine what they have been going through the last three years or so.

i noticed the sunroof window was broken. would that be from water pressure or did he try to escape by breaking it? i know that power windows won't open when in water right? i hope it was an accident.

 

[Julespa]

My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I hope they can conclude if it was accidental or anything else.

Also I remember an episode on Mythbusters where they tested theories on cars going into water. The windows will roll down if they are electric for up to 30 minutes after being submerged. However I guess it could depend on he car. Also it is very hard to break glass in a car once submerged. It usually requres a glass hammer. Still I think panicking when the car first hits the water usually means the person may not make it out alive. I know personally I would probably freak out but I hope I have the frame of mind to calm down, take calm breathes and wait for the car to fill with water and open the doors.

i think i watch too much Discovery Channel LOL!

 

[arielilane]

Peace and prayers for Mohamed Rihani's family during this time.

 

[Gray]

That's so sad. I hope that it was an accident and not suicide or foul play.

 

[arielilane]

Body found in sunken car is man missing since 2005

Monday, November 10, 2008 11:50 AM
By Dana Wilson


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Police identified the body found in a sunken car in Hoover Reservoir as Mohamed Rihani, a man missing for three years.
Rihani's death has been ruled a suicide, Genoa Township Police Chief Robert Taylor said today.
Rihani was 29 when his roommate reported him missing to Columbus police on Nov. 3, 2005.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/10/hoover_id.html?sid=101

 

[AmandaBrown23]

How strange that he was found almost exactly 3 years to the day after he disappeared. At least his family knows where he is now even though its extremely heartbreaking for them.

 

[MeoW333]

How do they know it was a suicide? What if someone broke the skyroof before the car sunk so it would sink better? It just seems a weird way to die when other methods are easier.