NEW CUMBERLAND, W.Va. -- An investigator with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office continued efforts to identify four people who were found dead in the Ohio River.

"Right now, we're basically in a holding stage," said Sgt. A. L. Watson, Jr.

The bodies were found in March, April and May of 2008 and in February 2011.

Watson has a large portable bulletin board sitting in his office that highlights where each of the people were found.

"I don't want to forget about them," said Watson. "If I have a slow day, let me look at something else or let me try to contact somebody else. You just feel bad for somebody. You just don't know who."

Information about each of the bodies was entered into national databases that track missing people but Watson still can't identify the four people.

"At the time when they first occur, I get these a lot," said Watson. "I don't get them like that anymore. I just get updated occasionally."

Watson explained to NEWS9's Kelly Camarote that there are challenges that make identifying the people difficult like a lack of information and the conditions of the bodies.

"The May 31 individual of 2008,  originally he was reported as a white male, but then the body went away. He's still in that category but there's potential for him being Hispanic," said Watson. "Well if he is truly Hispanic or if that's how he's listed, that could make a difference. That's all we could be missing some of these by."