hull

Divers Searching Hull Bay Recover Body of Man Who Ran Into Water to Escape Cops

According to Hull police, the body of Jeffrey Lilja, 41, was recovered around 3 p.m. Sunday approximately 200 feet off shore, in roughly 16 feet of water.

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The body of a missing Massachusetts man was discovered on Sunday, three days after he disappeared when he went into Hull Bay to avoid officers, after fleeing his home during a disturbance call, police said.

According to Hull police, the body of Jeffrey Lilja, 41, of Hull, was recovered around 3 p.m. by Massachusetts State Police divers after sonar scans by Massachusetts Environmental Police found an area of interest approximately 200 feet off shore, in roughly 16 feet of water.

Lilja's body was positively identified, and his family has been notified, police said.

Hull police and fire departments began conducting the water search for Lilja around 11:35 p.m. Thursday night.

Officers had responded to Lilja's home late Thursday night for a report of a disturbance, which was over the misuse of a family vehicle. Police had prior interaction with the family earlier in the day, also over misuse of the vehicle, which was later found in Boston.

According to police, Lilja fled during the argument, before officers arrived. Police located him around 11:30 p.m. that night at Cadish Avenue, near M Street, with two other men. When officers approached the trio to speak to them, police said Lilja fled, running into Hull Bay.

According to police, when officers attempted to deescalate the situation and get him to come out of the water, Lilja refused to do so and went deeper into the bay until officers lost sight of him.

The two other men were cooperative with officers and they were sent on their way, police said.

Local officials were assisted in their search by the Massachusetts State Police dive team and air wing, as well as Massachusetts Environmental Police and the United States Coast Guard.

In his statement Sunday night, Hull Police Chief John Dunn thanked all of the local, state and federal agencies that assisted in the search.

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