On 07/19/2013 Agents were on boating patrol in the Ouachita River.  Agents discovered a boat, LA-7974-FS drifting caught in a tree top, on the Morehouse Parish side of the bank.  Fishing gear along with other personal items was located in the vessel but no operator or occupants were around.  The ignition switch was in the off position.  The trolling motor was in the up position, not in use.  The kill switch lanyard was still attached to the switch with the snap end hooked to a PFD, which was located directly behind the operators’ seat.  Two fishing poles were in the boat along with a small cooler with ice and drinks.  At this point, a search began for the owner/operator.  wife stated he gone fishing for a couple of hours.  Approximately thirty hours after the search began; LDWF Agents recovered the body roughly 100 yards from where the boat was located.  The Morehouse Parish Coroner’s Office retrieved the body of and the cause of his death has been determined to be fresh water drowning by the Coroner.  The conclusions of the investigation are that victim fell out of his vessel while recreational fishing. victim then made an attempt to swim back to his boat that was floating away from him down stream.  victim was unable to reach his boat, resulting in his death by drowning.
Sterlington