Local

Body found beneath Tarentum Bridge believed to be jumper

TARENTUM, Pa. — Searchers probing the Allegheny River Friday afternoon said the body found beneath the Tarentum Bridge is Michael Swiklinski, who jumped from the span Thursday evening.

Tarentum police Sgt. Mark Glogowski confirmed the identity at about 6:30, two hours after divers located the body.

This article was written by Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE.

Recovery crews spent about six hours trying to find the body of Swiklinsk,i a 43-year-old Tarentum resident. His car was found parked in the eastbound lanes.

Members of Swiklinski's family kept vigil on the scene at the Tarentum Marina.

"He was a great guy and a great dad," said Kaylah Moucheron, 23, of Harrison, Swiklinski's daughter. "I know he's in a better place now and not suffering."

Swiklinski's former girlfriend, Tina Slomkoski, sustained severe burns Wednesday morning in a fire at her trailer home in Harrison. Swiklinski had been charged with assaulting her three weeks earlier and Harrison police were seeking to question him about the fire.

Slomkoski remains hospitalized in the burn unit at UPMC-Mercy.