VICTIM and OCCUPANT were out fishing on Rend Lake.  Their boat ran out of gas and they decided to keep fishing and let the boat drift.  At approximately 4:40pm, OCCUPANT stated that she went to the stern of the boat to retrieve some fishing gear while VICTIM was in the bow of the boat.  She said she turned back to the bow and watched VICTIM fall overboard, off the starboard side.  OCCUPANT  stated she rushed to the bow and saw VICTIM come to the surface.  She said she tried to reach for him but he did not lift his arms and sank back out of her reach.  OCCUPANT said she did not see him again.  She stated that she drifted about 20 minutes before another boat came by and she was able to get help.
CPO SGT was notified and began mobilizing the sonar/rescue team and I was notified to investigate the accident.  The sonar team searched the area until midnight and it was decided to resume the search the next morning.  VICTIM was located on sonar later that evening and his body recovered by divers (see SGT supplemental report).
All personal property of VICTIM was returned to his family on October 24th.  The final report will be complete once the coroner has completed his report of death.

Benton                        