Officials Investigate Body In Fall River Pool

Fall River police and state Department of Conservation and Recreation officials are working together to figure out how a woman's body remained in a public pool for more than two days before it was discovered.

Fall River Mayor William Flanagan says two city health inspectors paid two visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial pool while the body of 36-year-old Marie Joseph was apparently in the water.

"Heath inspectors from the city visited the pool on Monday and on Tuesday," Flanagan said. "The only abnormal note in the report is that the water clarity was cloudy."

Flanagan has suspended both inspectors.

Police are reviewing surveillance video of the pool area to try to determine how the body may have remained in the water from Sunday until Tuesday night. Police said youngsters who jumped over a fence for a clandestine swim on Tuesday night found Joseph's body floating in the pool.

Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered an investigation of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The department, which has closed all 30 deep-water swimming pools run by the state, expects to reopen other public pools Friday.

Flanagan is also asking state health officials to determine whether any health risks could affect people who swam in the pool between Sunday and Tuesday.