Investigation into death of Mass. man on Delaware bank in Essington

Tinicum Township police on Monday were investigating the suspicious death of a Massachusetts man whose body was found Sunday on an embankment of the Delaware River.

The deceased has been identified as Frank Basile, 48, of East Longmeadow, Mass., police said. His body was found in Governor Printz Park in Essington by people visiting the park.

According to police, Basile was supposed to be taking a flight out of Philadelphia International Airport on Friday, but that flight was canceled. Due to the cancellation, he was given a voucher by the airline to stay at a local hotel. That evening, Basile was registered as a guest at the Holiday Inn Express in Essington.

He was reported Saturday as a missing person when he did not arrive on his scheduled flight from Philadelphia.

A woman who answered the phone at Basile's residence said that she was his sister and that her brother was in Philadelphia for business.

"There was a tragic accident," said the woman, who would not give her name. She said a detective told the family it appeared that Basile may have slipped.

She said Basile had no children, but declined to give other details.

Police released no further information about the case.