Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of 22‑year‑old Gavin Saab, a Chelmsford resident whose body was recovered from the Western Canal in Lowell on Thursday.
What is known so far
Middlesex District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Meghan Kelly said the probe into Saab’s movements in the days before his body was located remains ongoing. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is working to establish the cause and manner of death.
- Last known contact: Saab’s mother, Maria Saab, says she last spoke with her son on Monday morning and that
- Last seen: around 5pm on Monday in the vicinity of Appleton Street, Lowell, according to the Chelmsford Police Department.
- Discovery: an individual conducting a water study located Saab’s body in the Western Canal and called 911 at about 11:40am on Thursday.
"He was fine."
Recovery and local response
Emergency responders from the Lowell Fire Department recovered the body shortly after the discovery. Witnesses described firefighters launching a boat over a fence that runs alongside the canal’s walking path beside Suffolk Street. Neighbouring residents told reporters they had not observed anything unusual in the area in the hours prior to the recovery.
| Key moment | Date/time |
|---|---|
| Last contact with family | Monday morning |
| Last seen (Appleton Street area) | Around 5pm on Monday |
| Body located | About 11:40am on Thursday |
Family arrangements and community support
Saab’s family are making funeral arrangements and preparing a celebration of life. A GoFundMe page established by his aunt, Kim Perry, set a target of $14,000 to assist with costs and had raised more than $11,000 by Saturday afternoon, according to the fundraiser’s page.
The investigation is being led by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, with the medical examiner handling formal determinations about cause and manner of death. Chelmsford residents with information about Saab’s movements in the period between Monday evening and Thursday morning are likely to be of interest to investigators.
As the inquiry proceeds, local authorities have not released further details about the circumstances that led to Saab entering the water. The community will await the medical examiner’s findings and any updates from the DA’s office.
