At 10:00 a.m. on October 21, 2009 a Canadian Fisheries vessel reported Vessel 1 adrift with no one on board.  Fishing gear on Vessel 1 was out and rigged, line (anchor and fishing line) was found fouled around the propeller, and glasses, keys, a wallet, a jacket, and a cell phone were found still on board.  Coast Guard Station Detroit coordinated a search for the single missing Occupant on Vessel 1 along with the Canadian Coast Guard; Vessel 1 was transferred to Ohio at the border at 5:15 p.m. on October 21, 2009.  The truck belonging to the Owner of Vessel 1 was found (unlocked) with the trailer at West Wing Boat Ramp in Ohio.  The search for the missing Occupant was suspended at 7:00 p.m. on October 21, 2009.  

Based on preliminary investigation, it appears that the Victim had set his anchor while rigging his fishing gear.  After laying the rods and reels out on deck, along with three personal flotation devices, he engaged the motor to move forward and retrieve the anchor.  Due to wind, or possibly slack in the line, the anchor line became caught on the lower unit of the outboard motor and was then caught by the propeller.  The engine then siezed and quit working.  The Victim appears to have then taken a pair of needle-nose pliers to the swim ladder location and attempted to release the line from the prop.  It is suspected that at some point he fell overboard.  Because the propeller had raised the anchor off the lake bottom, the wind caught Vessel 1 and it drifted away from the Victim.  The family of the Victim stated that he is a strong swimmer, however, it is suspected that he couold not catch Vessel 1 and was not wearing a personal flotation device in very cool water (approximately 50 degrees).
Carroll Township              