Father confirms missing son’s body found in Tennessee

The father of Dan Brown, a Springville teen missing in Nashville, says a volunteer firefighter found his son's body Wednesday. Roger Brown was there when the searcher discovered his son's remains in a remote area that had been underwater up until a few days ago.

Roger Brown said crews found the body near the Murfreesboro Pike Bridge, south of Interstate 40 and close to where his son and two others had been tubing. The Mill Creek flows north into the Cumberland River a few miles downstream from where searchers had looked for miles since May 2.

“We have been collecting the names of all the people we want to thank and the outpouring of support and the hands that were offered. The people have been terrific everywhere. Firemen, when they are on and off-duty, have been great,” Roger Brown said.

Everyone feared the search would end like this. Many people in Brown's hometown of Springville were too emotional to talk about Brown's death, but a few friends shared their memories.

Those who knew him say Brown seemed invincible and destined for success.

“He was like a Superman. You never thought he was going to go down. Anything he did, he did to the best of his knowledge and the best of his abilities,” friend and former classmate Tre Ross said.

Kahrim Ross, another friend and classmate said, “He was a great friend. He was always willing to give you advice if you ever needed to talk to him….I'm just going to miss hanging out with him and seeing his face.”

Brown dreamed of pursuing a music career in Nashville, but his friends say he could have been a comedian.

“He always had people laughing. That was his mission throughout the whole school day - to keep people laughing and keep people on their toes,” Tre Ross said, “We all have great memories of him and we'll never forget him.”

Brown's friends never thought they'd have to say good-bye so soon. Now, they're struggling to move on without the musician, comedian and friend they loved so much.

Brown moved to Nashville after graduating from Springville High School in 2009 to pursue a music career.  Brown was finishing up his first year at the School of Audio Engineering in Nashville.

Roger Brown brought his son's dental records to help investigators identify the body. The medical examiner still must officially confirm the remains are that of Dan Brown, but Roger Brown says his son's swimming trunks “provided the positive ID.”

A representative from the Springville Community School District said there are no formal plans for a school memorial service at this time, but counselors will be available to speak to students.

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