Our network

Body in Grand River identified as missing woman

UPDATE (2 p.m.) -- Wyoming Police confirm the body found Tuesday evening in the Grand River is Mary Tornga. Autopsy results are pending.

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) -- Family members of a missing Grandville woman say they believe a body found in the Grand River is that of 51-year-old Mary Tornga.

The body was found by a kayaker around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Tornga disappeared around 1 a.m. Sunday after an argument with her husband. They were driving home from a birthday party in Grand Rapids when she reportedly got out of the car near Market Street and I-196. Her shoe was found nearby.

Family members say characteristics they provided police with match those of the woman pulled from the river. We are still waiting for official word from the Kent County Medical Examiner's office.

Community Sponsors

Spartan Stores named one of America's most trustworthy companies

Spartan Stores named one of America's most trustworthy companies

(Spartan Stores) –  Spartan Stores, Inc., a leading regional grocery distributor and retailer, was recently recognized by Forbes Magazine in their annual "America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies" list.  

“We are pleased to receive this distinction by Forbes as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies,” stated Dennis Eidson, Spartan’s President and Chief Executive Officer.  “We are committed to being transparent with all of our customers, shareholders, and business partners while continuing to operate the business based on our core principles of honesty and integrity.”

Forbes turned to GMI Ratings, a pioneer in the application of non-traditional risk measures for financial analysis, to identify the most transparent and trustworthy businesses that trade on American exchanges.

Body found in Grand River near I-196

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) - UPDATE: Police have recovered the body of a clothed woman from the Grand River near I-196 west of Market Avenue.  Police say an autopsy will be used to identify the woman, it is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. 

 

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) - Multiple police agencies are working to retrieve a body from the Grand River.

According to scanner traffic, a kayaker called police around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday after spotting the body near I-196, west of Market Avenue.

The Kent County Sheriff's Department, Grandville Police, and Wyoming Police were on the scene late Tuesday night.

Traffic was backing up along westbound I-196 because of the investigation.

WZZM 13 has a crew on the scene and will have more information as details become available.

River flooding could soon get much worse

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Come Thursday, the Muskegon River and Grand River basins could see some of their highest water levels in decades, according to the National Weather Service.

WZZM 13 visited flooded areas across Kent County and found the Grand River at two to three feet above flood stage. Hydrologist Mark Walton says that's moderate flooding.

In two days the area could hit major flood stage.

Liz Koenig has yet to check her Grand Rapids home for flood damage on Tuesday afternoon. The Grand River rose and closed in too fast for her to get her waders. She lives across the river from the Fifth Third Ballpark.

"This is the worst out of the four years I've been here," she said.

Koenig attempted to get her kayak, which was stored under her house, but was unable because the water was already three feet above her foundation.

Community Sponsors

Search continues for missing Grandville Woman

GRANDVILLE (WZZM) - Grandville Police will continue the search for 51-year-old Mary Tornga, Tuesday.  Police found a shoe belonging to Tornga during an earlier search.

The Grandville woman disappeared around 1 a.m. Sunday after an argument with her husband.

The husband says they were driving home from a birthday celebration in Grand Rapids, when Tornga got out of the car near Market Street and I-196. She hasn't been seen since.

Monday, The Michigan State Police used a helicopter to search up and down the Grand River.

"Due to the fact that she was down here, middle of the night, with the water, river being a concern too," said Chief Dan Steer with the Grandville Police Department. "No, we're not going to put any divers in, heavy current, lots of snags, very dangerous to put boat in. We wouldn't even know where to begin."

Boston Marathon: At least 97 from West Mich.

BOSTON, Mass. (WZZM) - According to the Boston Marathon's website, at least 97 runners from West Michigan registered for Monday's race; however at least 19 local entrants were not listed on the race results page.

Organizers stopped the race shortly after two explosions erupted around 2:45 p.m. near the finish line. Not every entrant had finished the race at that time.

This year, 26 people from Grand Rapids registered for the Boston Marathon, but two men, 29-year-old Chad Yerrick and 65-year-old John Campbell, were not listed on the race results page.

From Holland, 14 people entered the Boston Marathon, but six were not listed on the race results page. Their names include 35-year-old Virginia Beard, 49-year-old Rick Ganzi, 60-year-old Lin Light, 56-year-old Carol Neckel, 61-year-old Dave Willard and 46-year-old Nancy Wooley.

Helicopter searches for missing Grandville woman

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WZZM) -- The search continued Monday along the Grand River for a Grandville woman missing since the weekend.

51-year old Mary Tornga disappeared around 1:00am Sunday, after arguing with her husband.

They were driving home from a birthday party in Grand Rapids, when Tornga got out of the car near Market Street and I-196. She hasn't been seen since.

Grandville Police Chief Dan Steer says the family reported her missing later that day. Police decided to take action soon after she was reported missing. "Due to the fact that she was down here, middle of the night, with the water, the river being a concern too."

Monday afternoon, the Michigan State Police used its helicopter to search up and down the Grand River. There were no plans to search the river. "No, we're not going to put any divers in, heavy current, lots of snags, very dangerous to put boat in. We wouldn't even know where to begin."