Body recovered from Berlin Lake identified as missing man from Stark County
The Portage County Sheriff's Office has released the identity of a body that was recovered from Berlin Lake, a body of water that spans across Portage, Stark and Mahoning Counties along the Mahoning River.
According to the Portage County Coroner's Office, a body was recovered from the Portage County section of Berlin Lake on March 10, 2026, around 4:30 p.m.
The Sheriff's Office identified the body as that of Jacob Helmick of Stark County. According to a Facebook post from the Stark County Sheriff's Office in January, Helmick has been reported as missing from Lexington Township, Ohio since January 5, 2026.
The Portage County Coroner's Office tells 21 News no foul play is suspected at this time.
At this time, it is unknown how long Helmick's body was there before it was recovered.
A picture, shared with 21 News by a viewer, depicts several crews on the scene, including Deerfield Fire and Rescue.
The Portage County Coroner's Office told 21 News that several departments responded, including:
- Portage County Sheriff's Office
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources
- Portage County Water Rescue Team
- Stark County Sheriff's Office
- Deerfield Fire Department
