RedactedNarrative: On Saturday, June 12, 2021, at approximately 5:30 p.m., I was parked at the New Athens Boat Ramp when I observed a john boat being towed by another john boat.  The boat being towed had the outboard motor trimmed up and out of the water.  I observed one white male sitting in the boat and the entire lower unit was missing from the motor. I waited until they had the boat on the trailer and were in the parking lot before I made contact with them.  
  
  The white male who had been in the boat was identified by his driver''s license.  Operator stated that he had purchased the used motor about two months ago for summer time operation.  The boat is designed for a mud motor which Operator had removed.  Operator stated that had worked on the motor but not on the lower unit.  Operator stated that he was operating the boat on plane and heading down river.  He was south of the Beck''s Landing Access oxbow when all of a sudden he lost power and control of the boat. The boat came to a stop and he trimmed up the motor.  Operator observed that the lower unit was missing.  Operator does not believe that he struck anything with the lower unit prior to it falling off.  Operator stated that he purchased the motor a couple months ago for $3,500.00. 
  
  I observed that the threads in the motor for the lower unit''s bolts did not appear to be damaged.  A small chunk of metal where the low unit attaches was missing.
  