Man who washed up dead on Delaware River in Bucks County identified

A Philadelphia man drowned in the Delaware River on Monday after attempting to steal a boat docked on the waterfront in Bristol Township, officials said.

Sockhon Sam, 36, died after jumping into the Delaware to avoid capture, said Meredith Buck, Bucks County coroner. HIs body was discovered two days later and not far from the attempted boat theft. Sam was previously charged with theft and drug possession, court records show.

On Wednesday, Bristol Township police asked the public to help with identification of the body. Later, the coroner's office identified Sam but struggled to contact and notify his family in northwest Philadelphia. Law enforcement in the city was able to reach the family on Thursday night.

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In 2017, Sam pled guilty to drug possession charges out of Philadelphia, court records show. In 2018, Pennsylvania State Police charged Sam with receiving stolen property, officials said. That same year, Lower Merion police charged Sam with theft from a vehicle, records show.

Sam's body was discovered near the 6200 block of Radcliffe Street near the Delaware River-Turnpike Bridge, Buck said. The attempted boat theft occurred about four blocks north on Radcliffe Street in the township.

After Sam jumped into the river, New Jersey State Police and the United States Coast Guard searched the water using boats and planes. Bristol Township police said the neighbors had tossed a flotation device into the water in order to help Sam. But he quickly went underwater and did not re-surface, officers said.

"Autopsy findings today confirmed cause of death as drowning and manner of death is determined to be accidental with no signs of trauma," said Buck. "Our office extends its deepest condolences to the decedent’s family and friends during this difficult time."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Man who went missing on Delaware River in Bristol ID'd after body found