Bodies of missing Harrison fishermen found in Allegheny River
Autopsy results may be available Wednesday regarding the deaths of a father and his adult son who went fishing Sunday at the Allegheny River and never returned.
The bodies of Steven Sieminski, 62, and his son, Justin Sieminski, 30, of Harrison Township's Natrona neighborhood, were recovered by divers at about 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Their deaths are under investigation by the Westmoreland County Coroner's Office and Lower Burrell and county detectives.
Police said they see no immediate signs of foul play.
Family members said the men went fishing Sunday night and were expected to return home early Monday morning.
Searchers had scoured the river and riverbank Monday afternoon and night in Lower Burrell's Braeburn area, where the men's vehicle and fishing equipment were located.
Shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, as crews were preparing to resume the search, police were summoned to the search area.
“Someone from Tarentum was looking at the Allegheny River through binoculars and they saw what they thought was a body and called 911,” Lower Burrell Chief Tim Weitzel said.
The Coast Guard blocked river traffic while a Murrysville-based dive team recovered the bodies at an inlet where Chartiers Run enters the river.
The Braeburn riverbank is a popular fishing spot. It's just downriver from Natrona Lock and Dam No. 4, which is known to create swift currents.
Rescue crews, including a bloodhound team, began searching for the men about 4 p.m. Monday on foot along the river bank and by boat.
Complicating Monday's search, according to police, was a debris field of waterlogged branches and logs that made searching difficult for divers and prevented boats using sonar from getting close to the shore.
The search was called off about 9 p.m. Monday because darkness made it too dangerous for divers in the rain-swollen, murky river.
Relatives kept a vigil at the Tarentum Marina throughout.
Rusiewicz Funeral Homes Inc., Lower Burrell, is handling funeral arrangements.
Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-226-4711 or cbiedka@tribweb.com.
