Police: Body is Jameer Nelson's father

September 2, 2007

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) -- The body pulled from the Delaware River was positively identified as the missing father of Orlando Magic star Jameer Nelson.

Floyd "Pete" Nelson, a 57-year-old welder for a tugboat company, was last seen Thursday working in a dry dock area in the Philadelphia suburb of Chester, Pa. Divers and trained dogs searched the river Friday until about 4 p.m.

The Delaware Medical Examiners office will provide the cause of death and how the body was identified once they finish their investigation, police said Sunday.

Police in Delaware said a boater called 911 on Saturday after spotting the body of a black male floating in the river near Fox Point Park in Wilmington.

Floyd Nelson's lunch and car keys were found in the tug's kitchen area, and his car was nearby, Chester police said. Nelson has worked for the tugboat company for about a decade.

Jameer Nelson starred at Chester High School and Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. He was a first-round pick in the 2004 NBA draft and starts at point guard for the Magic.