District Attorney Russell Johnson has confirmed that the vehicle pulled out of the Hiwassee River today at the end of Blythe Ferry Road belongs to the missing Meigs County Deputy, Robert ‘R.J.’ Leonard.

Johnson says the vehicle was discovered overturned in the water. Officers found a female body in the back seat covered with mud.

As of 2 p.m. Eastern today, authorities have not identified the female Deputy Leonard was transporting.

There was no body found in the front seat. The missing deputy has not been located as of early this afternoon.

He also explained that they believed the driver’s window was down when the vehicle hit the water.

Most agencies will remain on the scene until the missing deputy is located.

Photo courtesy of News Channel 9