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Body Found

Identity of body discovered by NY?State Police still unknown

A body found late Thursday in the town of Sherman has yet to be officially identified as of press time Friday.

Sven Blumquist, a Conewango Township resident, was last seen on Saturday, July 6, at approximately 1 a.m.

Blumquist attended the Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman prior to his disappearance.

New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and New York Forest Rangers – as well as the owners of the center where the music festival is held – have been involved in the search.

“New York State Police did recover a body up there on the property of the Blue Heron Festival,” Conewango Township Police Lieutenant Randy Carlson said on Friday afternoon. “(We are) just trying to identify who that is. We still don’t have an identity.”

Carlson said that New York State Police is the entity handling the investigation into the found body.

“A body was recovered,” he reiterated. “(We) just don’t know who it is.”

According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, the body was found late Thursday night after police agencies spent a day searching the area in and around the Heron Farm and Event Center where the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is held each year.

New York State Police at Jamestown confirmed early Friday morning only that a body was found.

The Post-Journal reported that on Thursday, local K-9 units scoured various areas near the Blue Heron for any sign of Blumquist.

Heather Burkett, Blumquist’s sister, told The Post-Journal Thursday that her brother looked forward to the three-day festival known for its rural location far from most amenities. The site is surrounded by heavily wooded areas marked by patches of open fields and small ponds. Three of Blumquist’s backpacks and his keys were recovered by friends at his campsite along with items he had purchased before attending the music festival.

“It was his favorite music festival. He wouldn’t miss it,” she said.

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