RedactedNarrative: On March 16, 2016, at approximately 1021 hours, I, Officer1 of Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division (GADNRLED), received a call from Officer2 (GADNRLED) advising me of a boat incident on West Point Lake in Troup County. Officer2 advised me to respond as a Critical Incident Reconstruction Team investigator. I responded and arrived on scene at approximately 1230 hours. While en route, Officer3 (GADNRLED) called me and advised that he needed to turn on the bilge pump to keep the vessel from sinking. When I arrived, I was briefed by Officer3. Officer3 informed me that the vessel was located anchored near a buoy in a nearby cove. There were several fishing poles in the rod holders with the fishing lines were in the water and it appeared the occupant of the vessel was in the act of fishing. Officer3 told me there were personal belongings present in the vessel. Officer3 advised the owner/operator of the vessel was a 70 year old white male. According to Officer3, Witness1 and Witness2 had seen and spoke with the Operator during the evening of March 15, 2016 at the boat ramp. Witness1 and Witness2 returned to the lake the morning of March 16, 2016 and discovered the Operator’s vessel without anyone present.
  I went to the area by vessel with Officer3 and Officer4 (GADNRLED). I photographed the area and vessel upon approach. I photographed the interior of the vessel before entering it. I noted the presence of water in the vessel and the instability of the vessel when the water moved as I boarded. A fishing rod was laying on the rear deck near the starboard stern. There was a T-shirt, miscellaneous coats, snacks, insulin shots, a pistol and a leather shoe in the vessel along with fishing gear. A broken styrofoam cooler with several Lite beer cans was located in the floor by the passenger seat. None of the cans had been opened. I secured the pistol from the vessel for safe keeping. We returned to the boat ramp where the Incident Command had been established. Officer3 and Officer4 made arrangements to bring a larger patrol vessel to the area and Officer5 (GADNRLED) was requested to respond with the Side Scan Sonar. Troup County Fire towed the victim's vessel to the boat ramp where it was secured at the dock. Troup County Fire and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel began dragging the area for the victim. I remained at the boat ramp until the son of the Operator, arrived on scene. Sheriff1 and I notified the son that we strongly suspected that the Operator had fallen from the vessel and we were searching for him. While speaking with the son, I learned that the Operator recently purchased the vessel and this was the first time he put it into the water. During this time, Officer2 and Officer5 arrived on scene. 
  Officer3 and Officer4 returned with the Edgewater patrol vessel and Georgia State Patrol Aviation arrived on scene. GSP began an aerial search of the area to ensure the Operator had not swam to shore. Dragging operations were suspended in order to search the area with the vessel mounted side scan sonar. Officer3, Officer5 and I scanned the area where the vessel was found. We observed an image that, based upon our knowledge, training, and experience, we believed to be a person. After making several observations of the target, we placed a marker buoy as close to the target as possible. Troup County divers, went into the water and searched. The divers located and retrieved the Operator at 1630 hours. The Operator was wearing blue jeans and no shirt. He was wearing one leather shoe matching the shoe found in the vessel. I assisted placing the Operator into a body bag and placing him into an U.S. Army Corp of Engineer vessel. I accompanied the body to the boat ramp where he was turned over to the Troup County C
  
  