Authorities have confirmed the identity of a body found Sunday in a creek near Pioneers Park.

The deceased was identified as Dustin Jeune, 21, of Lincoln, said Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner.

Jeune had been reported missing Sept. 19 by friends who were with him in the general area where his body was located, Wagner said.

A deputy and one of Jeune’s friends searched the area of Haines Branch Creek after he disappeared but didn’t find him, Wagner said.

Two men walking dogs discovered Jeune’s body floating in the creek at 2:47 p.m. Sunday in a heavily wooded area just east of Pioneers Park where deep gullies and small cliffs border the creek.

The investigation continues to determine how Jeune’s body ended up in the creek.

An ID was found on Jeune’s body, but investigators waited until they could confirm his identity through dental records before making a final determination, Wagner said.

“There would be nothing worse than to tentatively identify that body and then be wrong in that identification,” he said.

Wagner said an autopsy performed Monday morning had been unable to determine the cause or manner of death. He said investigators would wait for microscopic and toxicology results before making a final determination.

“It’s not a natural death,” Wagner said. “It could be anything.”

They haven’t ruled out foul play, an accident or suicide.

Lincoln Police Officer Katie Flood said about 1:30 a.m. Sept. 19 two friends reported Jeune missing.

Jeune’s friends told police they had been at “Hippie Cliffs” at Pioneers Park drinking alcohol, and maybe smoking marijuana, when their friend got drunk and angry, told them to leave him alone and ran into the park, Flood said.

According to an account of the night posted online, one of the two who reported him missing said it was the third night in a row they had gone to the cliffs to drink and hang out.

Jeune was an avid bowler and a 2006 graduate of Lincoln Southwest High School. A celebration of his life has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.