The 31-year-old man had been missing since being swept out to sea in Bradley Beach on Saturday night.
BRADLEY BEACH - Authorities have identified the body that was discovered floating in the waters off Sea Bright on Thursday as the 31-year-old Newark man who was swept out to sea on Saturday.
Julio Pierre was visiting Bradley Beach with friends on Saturday when he disappeared in the ocean near the Brinley Avenue jetty at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.
A multi-agency search effort that ensued covered 248-square miles until the U.S. Coast Guard officially suspended the search on Sunday night.
At approximately 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, the State Police's Marine Services Bureau's Carteret station received a report of a body floating in the water near the Route 36 bridge connecting Highlands and Sea Bright, State Police Sgt. First Class Greg Williams said.
Police Chief Leonard Guida said the body was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean, about two miles east of the bridge.
"It's a tragic situation, I really feel for the family here because I can only imagine how devastating it would be to be going through something like this," Guida said. "Hopefully this can bring some closure for them, that is most important."
Guida told NJ Advance Media on Sunday that the 31-year-old Pierre immigrated to Newark from Haiti about a month ago.
"They came down here trying to beat the heat up north and it turned into a tragedy," he said.
Rob Spahr may be reached at rspahr@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheRobSpahr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.