On May 28, 2013, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Sgt. contacted me about a boating complaint on West Point Lake. I contacted the complainant and he informed me that there was a sunken boat in the water, and a Pro-Line boat anchored above Highland Marina. I acquired the registration numbers off of the Pro-Line and tried to locate the owner. I was able to speak to the previous owner but he informed me that he had sold the boat a while back. He said that the subject who purchased the boat had a mutual friend with him. 

He contacted Former owner and asked him who purchased the Pro-Line. Former owner informed him. Former owner stated that New owner contacted him around 02:30 a.m. that morning and informed him that his boat was out of gas. Former owner stated that they lost phone service and he never heard back from him again. I notified Sgt. of the events and he informed me that he was familiar with New owner. New owner has a boat slip at Highland Marina. Sgt. called and spoke with Highland Marina about the events. They informed Sgt. that New owner was seen earlier that morning walking around the area. 

I drove to Highland Marina and located New owner. After speaking to New owner about the incident he informed me that he was notified on May 25, 2013, about his 37 foot Egg Harbor boat taking on water while in the slip at Highland Marina. New owner stated that one of the adjoining boat owners pumped out the water. New owner stated that on May 27, 2013, he made arrangements for a 18-wheeler truck and trailer to meet him over at Yellow Jacket Creek access to pull the boat out of the water. New owner stated that he waited for the boat traffic to slow down around dusk/dark, before he attempted to tow the 37 foot Egg Harbor. 

New owner was using a 24 foot Pro-Line to tow the boat. New owner stated that shortly after leaving the No Wake area at Highland Marina, he noticed that the Egg Harbor was becoming heavy. He then discovered that the rope broke on the Egg Harbor. New owner stated that the boat was taking on more and more water and was starting to sink. New owner said that he attempted to keep tying ropes around it and pull it over to the side of the lake. New owner stated that sometime around 01:30 a.m., the Pro-Line ran out of gas. New owner said that he pulled a sheet over him and slept on the Pro-Line. New owner was able to flag down help around 08:00 a.m. A couple of fishermen brought New owner in to Highland Marina. New owner was able to get some gas and go out and retrieve his Pro-Line boat. After speaking with New owner, he informed me that he purchased the boat for $9,000 about 6 years ago. 

He stated that he spent an additional $5,000 to transport the boat home from Ohio. New owner stated that the boat wasn't worth anything close to that now but eventually stated that he was about to strip some parts and the motor and would've taken around $1,500 for those items. I informed New owner that he needed to retrieve the boat from the lake and work with the Corps of Engineers in doing so. On May 30, 2013, at approximately 00:45 a.m., New owner contacted my cell phone and left a voicemail. New owner informed me that they got the Egg Harbor out of the water. I contacted New owner around 07:45 a.m. and he stated that it took 4 boats hooking up to the boat, but they were able to pull the boat over to Liberty Hill access and take the boat out of the water. He informed me that it cost him $1,800 to get the boat out of the water. I asked New owner if the boat was in Lagrange and he stated that it was in Atlanta somewhere. New owner stated that it wouldn't fit on the trailer so they took a chainsaw and cut the boat into 2 pieces.