On 5/12/11 at approximately 6:58 PM, the Illinois State Police received a cellular call from operator. She stated she was on the Illinois River below Otter Creek and her boyfriend had fallen out of the boat. Three Rosedale Fire Department personal and a Jersey County responded by boat to her location. She told them her boyfriend was operating the watercraft. He slowed down to idle speed and asked her to take control of the tiller arm, so he could get something out of the cooler. She took control of the tiller arm. After she did, the boat accelerated and went into a sharp right turn. They were both thrown fom the boat. She swam back to the boat. He went under water. A surface search was conducted that evening. 
A surface and sonar search was conducted the next three days.
On 5/15/11, the body was recovered. He was found floating in the Grafton Marina.
Nutwood                       