Crime & Safety

Body of Missing Bel Air Business Owner Found at Conowingo Dam

Police said the man was identified as Scott Hammer, founder of Bel Air's CODA Records, by his driver's license and clothing.

Nearly two months after Scott Hammer's wife reported him missing and a vehicle registered to them was abandoned near the Conowingo Dam, police said his body was found in the Susquehanna River.

Hammer, 57, lived on the 300 block of Bourbon Street in Havre de Grace and owned a business on Main Street in Bel Air.

Maryland State Police said that just before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, workers at the Conowingo Dam reported seeing a body on a rock when the water level subsided.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Since the area was not accessible by foot or by boat, a Maryland State Police helicopter flew in and lowered two flight paramedics with a rescue basket down to the body, according to police.

The body was placed in the rescue basket and hoisted from the river, state police said. It has been taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Authorities said they identified Scott Hammer by his driver’s license and clothing.

Hammer was reported missing on Jan. 2, the same day that a Mazda registered to him and his wife was discovered by the Conowingo Dam on Route 1 with its emergency flashers on and the engine running.

Troopers from the North East Barrack contacted Havre de Grace police, who said they visited the Hammers' home that day, where the wife reported her husband missing.

The Susquehanna Hose Company and other teams participated in a search of the area near the Conowingo Dam that evening but did not find anything.

Natural Resources Police conducted daily searches of the area in the weeks following the Jan. 2 incident.

In mid-January, the lead investigator in the case told the Cecil Whig that state troopers were also checking the area near the Conowingo Dam during daylight hours but were not doing more extensive searches because the death was ruled suicide.

Hammer was the founder of CODA Records, located at 100 S. Main Street in Bel Air.

A makeshift memorial was erected outside the Bel Air business in the days following his disappearance. Those who cared for Hammer put up balloons, pictures and messages of love to honor his life.

In early February, The Dagger reported that a memorial concert was held in tribute to Hammer in Abingdon.

“Scott is almost single-handedly the reason there is a thriving music scene in Harford County today," one drummer told the City Paper before the event.

The business has shared top record picks with Patch in the past.

See Related:

  • Police Investigate Possible Suicide at Conowingo Dam
  • Conowingo Dam Investigation Involves Havre de Grace Man
  • Police: Search for Missing Havre de Grace Man Continues

  • Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

    We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

    To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.