On Friday July 15, 2011 and approximately 1403 hours the Shawnee County Dispatch received two 911 phone calls reporting a possible missing kayaker on the Kansas River near the weir.  The first caller advised when he arrived at the weir there was a kayak turned upside down in the water below the weir and no one was around and no vehicles were parked in the parking lot.  The second 911 caller was working at the Topeka Water Treatment Plant which is located on the south side of the Kansas River, south of the weir.  Second caller reported that he had seen an individual kayaking down the Kansas River and when Second caller looked back to the river a few minutes later he saw the kayak turned upside down in the water below the weir and that the person in the kayak was nowhere to be seen. Three of Second caller'S co-workers also saw the kayaker when the kayaker was up-stream of the weir but none of the co-workers saw how the kayaker went over the weir. Second caller also reported seeing an individual standing on the weir, talking on a cell phone.  The person Second caller reported seeing standing on the weir was later identified as being the other 911 caller. 

The Topeka Fire Department from Fire Station 11 arrived at the weir at 1414 hours and the first officer with the Topeka Police Department arrived at the weir at 1420 hours.  
  
Shortly after they arrived at the weir the firefighters from fire station 11 recovered the kayak but no one was found in or around the kayak.  At 1437 hours the Topeka Fire Department recovered a body from the Kansas River approximately ½ mile downstream (east) from the weir.  When found the body was face down in the water and only a small portion of the deceased back was visible.  Also when found the deceased was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD).  The body was then loaded in the boat and taken to the boat ramp by the weir.  At 1555 hrs a Shawnee County Corner arrived at the scene.  

The deceased was later identified.  

On July 30, 2011 Natural Resource Officer (NRO) with Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism contacted Detective with the Topeka Police Department.  Detective was investigating the drowning death of victim.  Detective told NRO that the drowning death of Victim was being considered an accident and no foul play was suspected.  Detective continued to tell NRO about the incident.  

Detective stated on July 15, 2011 he was dispatched to investigate a possible drowning.  When Detective arrived at the scene he was told the deceased was located in the Topeka Fire Department boat at the boat ramp.  The deceased was an adult white male which looked to be in his mid-30s.  The deceased had short brown hair and a receding hairline.  The deceased was shirtless and wearing blue swim trunks and grey gloves on his hands.   Detective also saw a blue and white kayak which is believed to belong to the deceased.  The two hatches on the kayak were closed and in the In compartments were various items which included a small tackle box with fishing gear, glow sticks and a small cooler which contained a can of Dos X beer, a can of Coca-Cola and a bottle of Gatorade in it.  Detective did not see a personal flotation device (PFD) on the body or with the items of the kayak.

Due to no witnesses actually seeing the accident happen it could not be determined how or why Victim and his kayak went over the weir.

See separate narrative report.

Topeka                        