ON 5/28/12 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30PM THE MOTHER OF O1 DROPPED O1 OFF AT DEERFIELD LAKE NEAR THE MOUTH OF DITCH CREEK.  THE MOTHER STATED THAT SHE WOULD PICK UP O1 AT A DESIGNATED MEETING PLACE AROUND 5:00PM-5:30PM.  THE MOTHER STATED THE O1 WAS WEARING HIS LIFE JACKET THE LAST TIME SHE SAW HIM.  O1 DID NOT SHOW UP AT THE DESIGNATED MEETING PLACE.  THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS BEGAN SEARCHING THE LAKE AREA FOR O1.  AT APPROXIMATELY 7:00PM A FAMILY FRIEND FOUND O1’S KAYAK ON THE EAST SHORE OF GOLD RUN.  THE KAYAK WAS FOUND FULL OF WATER AND THE OAR WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE KAYAK. 

ACCORDING TO O1’S MOTHER, A NEIGHBOR WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON DEERFIELD RD AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00PM AND WITNESSED O1 PADDLING HIS KAYAK NEAR THE MOUTH OF GOLD RUN.  THE SEARCH BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS CONTINUED UNTIL LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS CALLED AT ABOUT 9:00PM. 

ON 5/29/12 A LIFE JACKET WAS FOUND AT THE SOUTH END OF GOLD RUN BY A MEMBER OF THE GROUND SEARCH TEAM AND IT WAS LATER IDENTIFIED BY THE FAMILY AS BEING O1’S LIFE JACKET.  A TENNIS SHOE WAS ALSO FOUND BY SEARCH AND RESCUE MEMBERS ON 5-29-12.  ON 6/5/12 A MATCHING SHOE WAS FOUND ON THE EAST SHORE OF GOLD RUN.  THE SHOES WERE IDENTIFIED BY THE FAMILY AS BEING O1’S SHOES. 

AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN SEARCH OF O1.  RESOURCES INVOLVED INCLUDED: SAR GROUND CREWS, SAR DIVERS, CIVIL AIR PATROL, SO, WCO USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR, AND DOGS.   

ON 6/13/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30PM O1’S BODY WAS FOUND IN  47 FEET OF WATER (59°F) USING SIDE-SCAN SONAR. 

IT IS ASSUMED THAT O1’S KAYAK CAPSIZED IN WINDY WEATHER AND HAZARDOUS WATERS AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00PM ON 5/28/12.
HILL CITY                     