Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Edgewood Man Identified in Atkisson Dam Death
The man was found face-down in the dam's reservoir on Sunday afternoon.
UPDATE: (4:35 p.m.)— Army officials have identified the Edgewood man found dead near Atkisson Dam Sunday and a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Officials announced Tuesday William Ralph Almsteadt, 43, of Edgewood was the man found face-down in Winters Run Sunday afternoon near the dam, according to a release from Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Special Agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the death and no further information has been released.
Almsteadt's cause of death and whether or not foul play was involved remained unclear Tuesday afternoon.
Officials announced Tuesday William Ralph Almsteadt, 43, of Edgewood was the man found face-down in Winters Run Sunday afternoon near the dam, according to a release from Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Special Agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command are investigating the death and no further information has been released.
Almsteadt's cause of death and whether or not foul play was involved remained unclear Tuesday afternoon.
Investigation began around 4:37 p.m. Sunday when a passerby noticed a body in the water near Atkisson Dam.
Personnel from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company responded to the area where they found Almsteadt face down in the reservoir, already dead, according to a release from the fire company.
Atkisson Dam was built during World War II to provide a reservoir of water for Army post operations and activities, according to a release from APG.
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"It ended up never being used for that," Kelly Luster with the Aberdeen Proving Ground Public Affairs Office said.
The dam, located at the edge of Abingdon and Joppa, nevertheless falls under APG jurisdiction.
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Patch editor Kirsten Dize contributed to this article.
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