Body of missing Cedar Rapids man recovered from Cedar River Wednesday

CEDAR RAPIDS — The body of a Cedar Rapids man, reported missing by his family last weekend, was recovered in or near the edge of the Cedar River on Wednesday night.

The Cedar Rapids Police and Fire department teams responded about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday and recovered the body of Blake Hansel, 38, in or near the edge of the river, several miles upstream from the Ellis boat ramp following a civilian drone search, according to a police press release Thursday.

Hansel was reported missing by family on Saturday, police said. Multiple civilian and law enforcement searches had been conducted since his disappearance.

The cause of death is under investigation but is not considered suspicious.

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