Justin Lowe’s family feared the worst when he went missing on Saturday, July 18th. The After the Burial guitarist, apparently suffering from some degree of mental illness, had left the band following a paranoid Facebook rant while recording their album last month. The band wished him well, hoping he got the support he needed. Tragically, the worst case scenario has proven to be true, as Lowe’s body was found near the St. Croix River in Somerset, WI. Rivertowns.net reports that Lowe’s body was discovered by a hiker early Tuesday beneath the Arcola High Bridge, which connects Minnesota and Wisconsin, on the Wisconsin side. Authorities say that the cause of death was consistent with a fall. His vehicle had been found at a parking lot on the Minnesota side of the bridge.

This is absolutely heartbreaking. When Lowe left the band, it would have been assumed that he was getting help and would hopefully have been monitored. That appears not to be the case. Lowe was 32. Mental illness is awful, and our thoughts go out to his family, bandmates and friends.

[Photo via Maclyn Bean]