The Defiance County Sheriff’s Office has positively identified the male who was located on May 24, 2019, in the Maumee River near US 127, Sherwood, Ohio.
Through an investigation with the Fort Wayne Police Department, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Defiance County Coroner’s Office, Lucas County Coroner’s Office, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation; identified as Jabari Mbwelera, age 27, of 1527 Spy Run Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jabari Mbwelera, had been reported missing on January 23, 2019. The positive identification was made through the use of DNA by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The Defiance County Sheriff would like to thank the Media and the public for providing the many leads on this case. The case has been turned over to the Fort Wayne Indiana Police Department for follow up. The Defiance County Sheriff’s Office would request that anyone with information that could assist the investigation to Contact the Fort Wayne Police Department.