RedactedNarrative: On Sunday evening (June 12, 2016), I was patrolling Bella Coola boat landing at Lake Waccamaw at approximately 5:55pm.  A gentleman that came in on a boat asked me what had happened that day about a possible drowning there at the Lake.  I called Columbus County 911 Center and asked if they knew anything about it.  They stated yes, that it had taken place about 2:30pm that afternoon.  I asked them why we hadn't been notified.   They said they had notified Lake Waccamaw Police, and NC State Parks.  At that time a Park Officer drove up and said that he had just left the hospital in Whiteville, and that the victim, and others from the boat were there at that time.  I left Lake Waccamaw and went to Columbus Regional Hospital.  
  
  When I arrived at the hospital, I went in and talked with the family of Victim1.  They advised that the others, who were on the boat (witnesses, and boat operator) when all this happened, were out in the parking lot.  
  When I went out to the parking lot I spoke with Operator1, Passenger1, and Relative1 (Relative1 wrote their statement out for them-neither could read nor write).  
  According to their statements as to what happened; there were 4 people on the boat when it was in Lake Waccamaw out from Bella Coola; Operator1, Victim1, Passenger1, and Passenger2 (10).  They were leaving when they decided to stop and fish some.  Victim1 decided to go swimming.  He put on a type II personal floatation device, but did not connect the straps.  He jumped into the water from the right (starboard) side, near the front of the boat (going under the railing attached to the boat).  When he jumped in the water, the PFD came off.  He turned and grabbed the boat, then he turned to grab the PFD, slipped off the boat, and the boat drifted away from him.  Then, Operator1 jumped in to try to grab Victim1.  The boat again, drifted away from them both.  Then Passenger1 started the boat, and drove towards Operator1.  They could not see Victim1 at this point.  She circled Operator1 twice before she could steer the boat to him.  After Operator1 got in the boat, he operated the boat, and they began searching for Victim1.  They saw the fishing pole, and began to pull it in and Victim1 came up tangled in the fishing line.  Operator1 and Passenger1 got him into the boat, and Passenger1 called 911.  
  Victim1 was brought ashore at Bella Coola boat landing.  CPR was performed.  An AED device was hooked up to Victim1, however, it advised not to shock, but to continue CPR.  
  I was not present during any of this, but was advised of these events by Lake Waccamaw Police Dept. Officers, and NC State Parks Officers.  The circumstances surrounding this event raised suspicion with the Lake Waccamaw Police, and NC State Parks.  The SBI was also brought in on this investigation.  
  Victim1 had injuries consisting of, a cut in the shape of a half circle above the left eye, bruising of the left eyelid and surrounding area.  He also had a puncture wound to the back of the head.  I asked Operator1 about the injury to Victim1's eye.  He stated that Victim1's head had hit the anchor when they brought him into the boat.  
  He was admitted to Columbus Regional Hospital.  He died at approximately 3:30 am on Monday June 13, 2016.  An autopsy was performed on the morning of Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at the Medical Examiner's Office in Raleigh.  A member of the SBI, and a Superintendent from the NC State Parks were present.  NC State Parks-Lake Waccamaw advised me that the medical examiner had found that the cause of death was “inconclusive/accidental drowning”.  Reports, witness statements, Officer statements, and other information from Lake Waccamaw Police and NC State Parks has also been attached with this report.
  