Police ID man found in Naugatuck River

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Andreas Yilma, Staff Writer

Naugatuck Deputy Police Chief C. Colin McAllister speaks during a news conference Thursday at the Naugatuck Police Department. –ANDREAS YILMA

NAUGATUCK — Police on Thursday identified the man whose body was recovered from the Naugatuck River earlier this week as 30-year-old George Fiallos of Waterbury.

Fiallos’ body was found on a small island in the river near Platts Mill Road and Radnor Avenue on Tuesday. Police said a hiker walking in the area spotted the body at about 3:40 p.m. and called police.

The body was in a state of decomposition when it was recovered and there was no identification. Police couldn’t immediately identify Fiallos.

Deputy Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said Thursday at a news conference Fiallos was last seen in Waterbury on the night of July 16.

“We can confirm that he was not reported missing,” McAllister said. “He was known to go missing from family and associates for extended periods of time.”

The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on Wednesday, but was unable to immediately determine how Fiallos died. The cause of death is “pending further studies,” the office reported.

“There was nothing apparent that was discovered during the course of the autopsy that led us to be able determine the cause,” McAllister said.

Police are still investigating how long Fiallos’ body was in the river and how he ended up there. McAllister said there’s no indication that Fiallos used the river recreationally.

He said police are continuing to investigate the incident as a criminal matter, noting there is no threat to the public.

“I’m confident to say we have no information that the community should be concerned,” he said.

Police ask anyone with information about Fiallos or his movements around July 16 to contact the Naugatuck Police Department at 203-729-5221 or the department’s anonymous tip line at 203-720-1010.