JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE
SHERIFF CHUCK PHILLIPS
PRESS/NEWS RELEASE
FEBRUARY 08, 2012
On Tuesday February 07, 2012 the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Bridgeport, AL. Police Department of a vehicle which had gone into the Tennessee River near the Bridgeport Ferry.
The JCSO responded to the scene along with the Bridgeport Police Department, Stevenson Police Department, TVA Police and Alabama State Troopers and were advised that a vehicle, occupied by a female subject had been observed going into the water.
According to this investigation, the female was able to exit the vehicle and swim to the bank.
A male, who was the boyfriend of the female, arrived and apparently dove into the water to rescue the female. The body of this male, who was later identified as Christopher Matthew HEATON, age 26 of Jasper, TN., was later located near the Bridgeport Ferry.
The Jackson County Coroner’s Office was also on scene and pronounced HEATON dead from an apparent drowning.
This search and recovery operation was conducted by members of the Jackson County Rescue Squad, Bridgeport Fire and Rescue, Stevenson Fire and Rescue, Ider Rescue Squad, and Marion County (TN.) Rescue Squad.
