At 6:39pm on 8/19/2012, a call came into columbus county 911 in reference to a boat at lake waccamaw that was going around and around in circles with no one on board.  Emergency response teams located the vessel and began a search for the operator.  It was later determined that the owner of the boat had told his cousin and a friend that he was going fishing that evening.  A search of the owner's residence and his vehicle was in the yard.  Out on the lake, the search continued but was soon called off due to darkness.  It continued the next day at dawn.  The owner's body was located the next afternoon at approximately 6:50pm near the location the boat was first seen.  There were no apparent marks on the body of any trauma.  It is not known how the operator fell overboard.  He was a very experienced operator.  We do know that the kill switch for the motor of the boat was not engaged and that he was not wearing a life jacket.  The toxicology report indicated a blood alcohol content of .16.
LAKE WACCAMAW                 