RedactedNarrative: On July 9, 2017, at approximately 1642 hrs., the Orange County Marine unit was requested to respond to Lake Hiawassee by the Orlando Police Department in reference to missing boater/fisherman. Upon my arrival at approximately 1800 hrs., the Orlando Fire Department had already deployed boats and had rescue divers searching the area where the canoe was found capsized. The canoe was in the northern part of the lake, near the middle portion (GPS coordinates Latitude 28.525299 Longitude 81.479846) Once on the scene, I launched a personal watercraft and began to help search for the missing boaters by idling along the shorelines. At approximately 1900 hrs., the Orlando Fire Department personnel terminated their search with negative results. I also terminated my search. The Orlando Police Department had originally received the call at 1552 hrs. The call came in from a citizen who saw the capsized vessel in the middle of the lake. The caller never saw any occupants in the canoe. 
  
  At approximately 1930 hrs., the Orange County Marine unit deployed a sonar equipped pontoon boat and started a search operation for the missing occupant(s). We concentrated our search effort in the area where the canoe was found capsized. The Orlando Fire Department personnel said they found the canoe floating vertically in the water, with approximately 1 foot of the front of the canoe sticking up out of the water. Fire Department personnel said that when they uprighted the canoe they recovered a wallet. There were also several fish (large mouth bass) on a stringer that was tied to the middle aluminum support beam. There were also two fishing rods in the boat. We conducted the sonar search until approximate 2145 hrs., with negative results. A large portion of the lake bottom was heavily covered in hydrilla and aquatic weeds which limited the sonars ability. 
  
  While I was on scene the Orlando Police Department discovered that there were apparently two occupants in the boat. Family members were contacted and they told OPD that Occupant had left the house at approximately 0730 hrs,, on July 09, 2017, to go fishing with his friend Operator. Operator's Chevrolet truck was located near the southern part of the lake, where the canoe was launched from. The truck was parked in a grassy field approximately 100 ft. from the lake. 
  
  On 07/10/2017, at 0700 hrs., the Orange County Marine unit resumed it search again using sonar with neagative results. Both bodies ended up floating to the surface very near the area of where the canoe was found capsized. Occupant surfaced at approximately 1315 hrs., at GPS coordinates N28.31527 W081*28775. Operator surfaced at approximately 1530 hrs., GPS coordinates N28 31.516 W081 *28,748. Both bodies were recovered from the water by The Orlando Fire Department, The Orange County Medical Examiner was also present when the bodies were recovered. Photos and measurements were taken by The Orlando Police Department Forensics Unit. 
  
  The investigation reveals that the two subjects went fishing on Lake Hiawassee at approximately 0730 hrs. At some time during the fishing trip the boat apparently capsized for some unknown reason and the two subjects ended up in the water. Both subjects then drowned. A reporter who lives on the lake saw the capsized canoe at approximately 1552 hrs., and notified the Orlando Police Department. The canoe was 16 ft in length (make Indian River) and was equipped with a Minkota trolling motor. The canoe had one PFD on board that was snapped to the front support Carry bar.There were two fishing rods that were also on board. The canoe was in good condition and had no structural damage. No mechanical issues were found either. According to family members both subjects were experienced fisherman and both were good swimmers. I contacted the Medical Examiners office on 07/13/2017, and was advised both Operator And
  