Leland Drowning Victim Identified

A drowning victim whose body was recovered from Lake Michigan on July 4 has finally been identified.

Authorities identified the victim as 67-year-old Marcus Brandom Adams of the United Kingdom. Positive identification was made through Adams' dental records. Adams is believed to have died by suicide.

Adams had been living in the Washington D.C. area since 2011. A friend of Adams in Washington D.C. reported him missing to local police on July 20. Earlier in the month, Adams sent suicidal letters to friends in Oregon, which they received on July 8. Washington D.C. detectives investigating the missing person complaint contacted the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office on August 6 after learning of reports of an unidentified drowning victim. Leelanau County Sheriff's Office detectives and investigating deputies worked with their Washington D.C. counterparts and the Medical Examiner’s Office of Western Michigan School of Medicine to positively identify Adams.

An investigation determined Adams traveled to the Ludington area and stayed several days at a small resort. There, he obtained a small Bris inflatable watercraft and left the resort, telling people he was going to explore the Lake Michigan shoreline. His watercraft is believed to be the dingy located off North Manitou Island on July 4, approximately 8.3 miles from where Adams' body was found.

Adams has no known relatives in the United States. Notification of possible relatives abroad is being investigated.