HARRISBURG, Ore. -- A body that washed ashore on the Willamette River was identified as a man last seen swimming away from a shoplifting incident, deputies said.

The Oregon State Police Crime Lab identified the dead man found on Nov. 30 as William Christopher Griffith, 37, by using the body's fingerprints, investigators said.

After an autopsy, medical examiners said that Griffith's cause of death is undetermined but was likely a result of drowning, deputies said.

Griffith was last seen on Oct. 30 entering the Willamette River at the boat landing upriver from Maure Jacobs bicycle bridge in Eugene, deputies said.

He entered the water in an apparent attempt to escape from authorities after a shoplifting incident at Macy's in the Valley River Center, deputies said.

Authorities tried to capture Griffith from the water but were unsuccessful, deputies said.

Related: Body Washes Ashore In Benton County