Body found in Trinity River in Fort Worth near Woodshed Smokehouse identified
The body of a 40-year-old man was recovered from the Clear Fork of the Trinity River in Fort Worth on Friday, April 25, officials said.
First responders were dispatched to 3201 Riverfront Drive shortly after 8:30 a.m., according to the 911 call log. The address is the location of the barbecue restaurant Woodshed Smokehouse and is near Forest Park.
According to police, the body was found floating in the Trinity River near a camp for people experiencing homelessness.
Fort Worth Fire Department dive teams recovered the body from the water around 9:30 a.m., according to spokesperson Craig Trojacek.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the man as James Ellis Barber. His death was caused by drowning and methamphetamine toxicity, according to the medical examiner’s website, and was ruled an accident.
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 12:35 PM.
