The body of a man found at the City of St. Petersburg’s Water Resources Compound has been identified as 62-year-old Leroy Fowler, Jr.
Fowler had been reported missing to the St. Petersburg Police Department by his wife on October 29th.
Police later learned that Fowler had driven from his home in Tampa to visit a relative in South St. Petersburg on October 27th. That relative later reported that Fowler had arrived at her home and left about 3:30 p. m. in his vehicle.
Mrs. Sharon Fowler reported that when her husband had not returned home, she became concerned and drove to St. Petersburg to see if she could find him.
Mrs. Fowler spotted her husband’s vehicle parked on the side of the highway of northbound I-275. It was not occupied, but did have a flat tire. She had the vehicle towed and later called police to report her husband missing.
According to detectives, it appears Fowler left the car after it developed the flat tire, walked along the Interstate, and apparently fell off the overpass into a secluded area of the Water Resources Compound.
Detectives said it appears this happened sometime on Saturday, October 27th, during a period when no one was working at the compound.
Investigators said there was no evidence Fowler was the victim of foul play, was struck by a vehicle, or was trying to harm himself.
Detectives said there was an oak tree near where Fowler was found, and they speculate he may have been trying to get off the overpass by climbing down the tree when he fell. A broken tree branch was found near his body.
