RUMSON - A 71-year-old Little Silver man, whose body was sighted floating in the Navesink River on May 25, died of asphyxia due to drowning, according to New Jersey State Police Sgt. Julian Castellanos.

The body of Joseph Roffler was spotted on a sandbar in the Navesink River by two kayakers at 10:56 a.m, said Castellanos.

The Rumson Police Department, with the help of the State Marine Police, lifted the body out of the river near the Rumson boat ramp, according to Castellanos.

"It's not being looked at as a criminal matter," said Castellanos. "The case is closed. It's a drowning."

He said the autopsy on Roffler's body was performed May 26, and his death, which occurred the previous day, was ruled a drowning.

"It was never at the point that he was reported as a missing person," said Castellanos. "Before anybody ever reported him [missing], he was located by the kayakers."

Castellanos added that there didn't seem to be any signs of a struggle and there didn't appear to be foul play involved.

"They are trying to backtrack and see why he got there and how he got there. That still has to be determined," he said.

By Melissa Karsh