Deerfield Township, OH — Authorities in Portage County recovered the body of a man Tuesday from Berlin Reservoir in Deerfield Township after boaters spotted an object floating in the water near Watson Road.
According to the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified Tuesday, March 10, 2026, of a possible body in the water near the dead end of Watson Road by German Church Road. A family boating on Berlin Reservoir reportedly observed what appeared to be an unidentified object floating and contacted authorities.
Deputies responded to the scene alongside the Deerfield Township Fire Department, while the Portage County Water Rescue Team was activated to assist with recovery efforts. Crews from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources also assisted in the operation.
Officials said members of the sheriff’s office and fire department boarded a rescue vessel and located the body of a deceased male in the reservoir. The recovery operation brought together several agencies working on the water to safely retrieve the body.
Preliminary information indicates the individual had previously been reported missing in Stark County on Jan. 12, 2026. Authorities later identified the man as Jacob R. Hemlick of Stark County.
The body was transported to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death, officials said.
Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski expressed condolences to the man’s family while thanking the agencies involved in the response.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” Zuchowski said in a statement. He also thanked the Deerfield Township Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Portage County Water Rescue Team for their assistance and professionalism during the recovery effort.
Authorities said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death remains ongoing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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