The body of the sixth person missing since the Key Bridge collapsed in late March has been recovered from the Patapsco River, officials said Tuesday, closing a search for the construction workers who were on the span when the cargo ship Dali struck it.

Col. Roland Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police, said troopers along with the FBI notified the family of José Mynor López, 37, of Baltimore, after confirming his identity.

The bodies of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, of Baltimore, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, of Dundalk, were recovered March 27. The body of Maynor Suazo Sandoval was recovered on April 5. The body of Miguel Luna, 49, was recovered May 2.

“With heavy hearts, today marks a significant milestone in our recovery efforts and providing closure to the loved ones of the six workers who lost their lives in this tragic event,” Butler said in a statement.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Gov. Wes Moore thanked Maryland State Police and the FBI for their “relentless effort” in finding the men and returning them to their families.

“We pray for José Mynor López, his family, and all those who love him. It is with solemn relief that he will be reunited with his loved ones, and we ask, again, to respect the family’s request for privacy during this difficult time,” Moore said in a statement. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to enduring support and will forever remember the lives of these six Marylanders.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott thanked the Unified Command for the effort put into finding the six men.

“It is impossible to overstate how important it is that we’ve been able to bring each of these Marylanders home to their families, and the small amount of peace and closure to their families it brings,” Scott said. “As we close this chapter in this effort and continue the work of fully reopening the channel – we will never forget to center the loss that we felt as a result of this unthinkable tragedy and the lives that were forever changed as a result.”

While the recovery efforts have now ended, the government is still working to fully reopen the Port of Baltimore. To reestablish the 50-foot channel that services much of the port, authorities need to move the Dali, which has been trapped under the wreckage of the Key Bridge.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Shredded shipping containers on the cargo ship Dali, which toppled the Francis Scott Key bridge when it crashed into it in March, are seen on April 25, 2024. (Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner)

Removing that wreckage and freeing the Dali will require the use of controlled explosives, WJZ reported. When asked about those controlled explosives Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore referred to it as “precision cutting.”

“Right now, the Dali still has anywhere from 3-4,000 tons of steel that’s sitting on top of it,” Moore said. “What they’re doing are best practices and historic best practices in the way you remove large amounts of steel.”

Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin were on the floor of the Senate Tuesday afternoon, urging their fellow lawmakers to support the Baltimore BRIDGE Relief Act.

Under the proposed legislation, the federal government would bear 100% of the costs to build a new bridge where the Key Bridge once spanned. For similar projects, states are typically required to chip in 10% of the cost.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said last week that rebuilding the Key Bridge is expected to cost between $1.7 and $1.9 billion and to be completed by fall 2028.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

The FBI is investigating the cause of the crash.

Giacomo Bologna

giacomo.bologna@thebaltimorebanner.com

Giacomo Bologna

Giacomo "Jack" Bologna covers business and development at The Baltimore Banner.

More from Giacomo Bologna

A Baltimore economic boom from Preakness? Don’t bet on it

How a Hopkins lab that began in an auto shop became Howard County’s largest private employer

More From The Banner

Maryland hospitals took money from poor patients. Why haven’t they paid them back?

Joanna Meade reads aloud love letters from the 1920's in the sun room of her home on February 27, 2024. The letters were found inside of a wall during a renovation.

Secret in the walls: Hidden letters reveal love, lust, scandal in 1920s Baltimore society

Illustration shows black geometric fragments falling from the sky, partially obscuring the faint outline of Key Bridge central span. In the background a sunrise starts to illuminate the darkness.

Grieving my brother and the Key Bridge

Sheila Dixon, a ‘filthy’ street and residents who want politicians to put up or shut up