By: Iman Thibodeaux, Feature Editor
Photo by David von Diemar on Unsplash

A body was found in the Charles Wood Japanese garden on Feb. 2, 2025. Located at 700 Forest Hill Drive, the 16-acre landscape has been closed for construction since Dec. 30, 2024. 

Home to koi fish, turtles, cherry trees, and azaleas, the garden was started in 1939 by Kosaku Sawada. It was originally a fish hatchery until Charles Wood—a World War II Veteran and humanitarian—spent almost two decades contributing his time to the growth of the garden by raising money and overseeing the land. It was founded in his name in 1992.

Now, 33 years later, the park is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Many can be found taking pictures, walking along the trails, or taking in the scenery. However, the garden was recently the site of somber news. 

The grounds crew discovered the body during routine maintenance shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 2, and police arrived on the scene by 10:41 a.m. The remains of the body were recovered by the Underwater Search and Recovery Detail. The cause of death and sex of the person have not yet been determined. Investigators will perform an autopsy to uncover further details. Police have confirmed that an active investigation is ongoing.

The Garden is not scheduled to reopen until summer 2025 after the completion of its Three Mile Creek Greenway Trail. The Garden’s parking lot is also being rebuilt as an initiative to make the grounds more accessible. These renovations reflect an investment of $1.7 million in total. It is unclear if the investigation will have any impact on the garden’s reopening; however, investigators have placed yellow police tape at the scene.