WSJ reporter Bird’s death ruled a drowning

The death of Wall Street Journal reporter David C. Bird, who was missing for 14 months, has been ruled an accidental drowning by a fall into the Passaic River.

Peggy Wright of the Daily Record writes, “‘We’re thankful he was found but the reality and the finality of that is hard to deal with,’ widow Nancy Bird said Tuesday in a phone interview.

“‘He was a lovely guy, an inspiration to many and he’s dearly missed. We’re grieving but in a way we can deal with,’ she said.

“Bird, who underwent a liver transplant in 2004, told his wife on the afternoon of Jan. 11, 2014, that he wanted to take a walk as he frequently did and often with her. The 55-year-old Bird, who was recovering from a gastrointestinal virus, never came home and his disappearance led to a massive search that ended when his remains were found around 5 p.m. on March 18 in the Passaic River.

“The discovery occurred when two men canoeing on the river in the vicinity of King George Road spotted a red jacket near some branches. They notified authorities and a multi-agency investigation ensued, resulting in a positive identification of David Bird through dental records.”

Read more here.