WILLIAMSON – The body of a Pike County man missing for more than a week was recovered Sunday morning from the Tug River. Police officials said he apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

William Henry Blankenship, 29, of Canada, had been missing since Friday, Feb. 12. According to his fiancee, Whitney Bostic, she and Blankenship had driven to the Williamson campus of Southern West Virginia Community College, where they both were students. Bostic entered the college, and did not see Blankenship again. Blankenship had called his mother around 4 p.m. that day, and texted Bostic at 5 p.m., telling her he was leaving the car in the college parking lot and that he would get a ride home.

His mother contacted authorities and filed a missing person report the following Sunday, Feb.14.

Blankenship had recently moved back to the area after living in Georgetown, Ky., and working at the Toyota plant there. He had suffered an injury, his mother, Sandra Blankenship, and had returned to live with her at Burnwell. She said her son had had some problems with alcohol, but seemed to be improving.

She spoke with the Daily News after the fate of her son became known. She said authorities came to the restaurant where she works to break the news to her.

“When I saw the state police walk in, I thought I would die,” Blankenship said. “I was devastated. We were hoping to find him alive.”

She said she was at work because working had helped her cope with her son’s disappearance.

“It is our understanding he had had been suffering depression due to personal problems,” Sgt. Dotson of the West Virginia State Police said.

The Belfry Volunteer Fire Department began searching the river on the Kentucky side Sunday morning, according to Sgt. Dotson.

“They started dragging the river, and found the body within a couple of minutes,” Dotson said.

He said the body had apparently been under some water, which made it difficult to see. A sawed off shotgun was also recovered from the scene.

The body has been sent to the Medical Examiners office in South Charleston for an autopsy.

The WVSP, Belfry Fire Department, Williamson Fire Department and Mingo County Coroner Mike Casey investigated the incident.

Sandra Blankenship expressed appreciation to everyone who helped in the search for her son. She said while the search did end with a tragic discovery, her family was glad to be able to have closure.

“We are deeply hurt, and will be for a long time,” she said.