RedactedNarrative: On October 22, 2018 at approximately 8:30pm, I was informed by dispatch that a white male was missing on the Lumber River in Fair Bluff.  Columbus County Sheriff's Department was the agency that notified North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  I arrived on scene to find Columbus County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Parks, Fair Bluff Fire and Rescue and Chadbourn Police Department already on scene.  
  
  Victim left his home approximately 12:00 and was to return home by 4:00pm according to his wife.  A plan was made to secure the launch area then a general direction of where he might be fishing at.  Two people and I patrolled from Causey Road, Fair Bluff which was the launch site of Victim.  We traveled downstream about a mile past the state line and into South Carolina.  We were greeted by South Carolina DNR.  Officer had put in at a boat landing near Nichols, South Carolina and traveled upstream.  Our group then turned around and worked the opposite side of the bank back towards the launch site.  After we were unable to locate Victim, we asked for suggestions about favorite fishing holes and hunting spots.  Several sites where pointed out plus a small shack in the woods he was known to frequent.  All spots where unsuccessful.  After all resources where depleted, a helicopter from a neighboring county was called in to look for Victim by Flare.  After subject was unable to be located we decided to wait till sunrise to resume looking. 
  
  Around 8:00am the owner of the river house came by and we were able to look at the surveillance cameras.  Victim was seen putting his vessel into the Lumber river alone at 12:03pm on the 22nd.  A better idea was formed of where we might find Victim.  At approximately 8:36am on October the 23rd, 2018 Victim's body was spotted downstream from the launch site in the river.  Wildlife Officer and I took two vessels along with a group of people to retrieve the body of Victim.  His vessel and firearm were not recovered. After Victim's body was placed into the ambulance, Officer and I drove to the highway and notified the family of his death.  His wife viewed the body and thanked the group for our efforts.
  
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