(Updated Tuesday, March 26, 4 p.m.) East Providence Police were continuing their investigation after the body of a man was pulled from the shore of the Providence River in city Thursday evening, March 21.

According to the initial report of East Providence Police Department Public Information Officer Captain Michael Rapoza, officers responded to a call of a body found by a walker on the East Bay Bike Path and upon arrival to the location found a deceased male along the shoreline.

Detectives from the department's Major Crimes Division and Bureau of Criminal Identification then began their inquiry.

The deceased was retrieved from the water by the East Providence Fire Department and the Office of the State Medical Examiners next took custody of the body for further examination and to perform an autopsy. Rapoza said initial the death did not appear suspicious.

On Tuesday, March 26, the ME's office and investigators were able to correctly identify the deceased as 44 year old Marcus Harris of Newport.

Earlier in the week, Rapoza said the ME's office was waiting on dental records to confirm the identity of the deceased. The EPPD then notified the next of kin before making Harris' name known publicly. Rapoza said the examiners had difficulty with the identification process due to decomposition of the body and lack of medical records.

Rapoza reiterated no nefarious actions appear to have contributing to the death, which also remains to be caused by drowning. He said the medical examiner's office continues to consider all possibilities and will make the information know at a later date.