I just found a body

Really. Actually my golden retriever Jazzy Brass spotted it first. I won’t say exactly where or who, but it was a woman still in the prime of life, face down in two feet of clear, still creek water. We found it 90 minutes before I started writing—this being something for me to do in order to come to grips with the situation on a personal level. Right now I feel little more than sadness, even though I want to feel more. That’s probably coming. Examining a little deeper, I find somberness and somehow a kinship to the deceased.

In the past I’ve seen death. That hasn’t bothered me so much before. I write about death often in my thriller novels. But I’ve never been the first person to discover a body. I know this happens all the time, especially with a spouse or friend who has passed in their home. It’s just a bit different when it’s a stranger found in a public, yet somewhat concealed place.

I find myself wishing somehow that person would have shown signs of life—that I could have saved that life. I’m a Red Cross certified CPR, First Aid and AED trainer. Maybe I could have done something, had there been but a small perceptible sign.

Regardless, I feel my sweet Jazzy Brass is a heroine. She’s the best companion anyone could have. And by pointing the body out to me, forcing me to come look at what she’d discovered, she saved this person’s family and friends the additional heartache of going without knowing what had happened to their loved one any longer. I imagine that even a few minutes in their lives may have made at least a tiny difference.

BTW, before I made this post, I waited for the police to inform me that an officer had notified the deceased’s next of kin.

I feel a bit of reverence for this unfortunate person. I don’t wish to disrespect her. But for some reason, I feel a need—an importance—to give my thoughts. Maybe it’s for my own therapy. Maybe something I bring up will help someone else—I don’t know why or see how. I’ll probably blog more about this in the coming hours and days. There is more to tell, but I’ll wait for news and police reports before I comment further on specifics.

Does anyone have any thoughts to share? If so, please do. It could be important to me and you—and perhaps someone else viewing this post.

Follow up the day after “I just found a body”: “I found a body yesterday–Jazzy Brass and I”