Hector L. Nieves was reported missing by his 24-year-old wife early this week, shortly after he burglarized a truck, Kearny police said.
The truck driver began chasing Nieves, at which point he call his wife while running from the scene, police said. He told his wife he planned on swimming across the Passaic River and that she should pick him up near the Comfort Suites in Newark.
He hadn't been heard from since.
Nieves' body was found just before 11:30 a.m. near the Jackson Street Bridge, authorities said.
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