RedactedNarrative: On April 21, 2016 at approximately 1830 hours I, Ranger1 with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Critical Incident Reconstruction Team, was notified by Lieutenant1 in regards to a fatal boating incident on Lake Varner in Newton County.  I was told to contact  Corporal1 and Ranger2.  I called Ranger2, and he told me two men had drowned after their boat sank on Lake Varner.  I arranged to meet Ranger2 at the Newton County Sheriff's Office the following morning to collect his notes, statements, and to photograph the vessel.
  
  On April 22, 2016 at approximately 0900 hours, I met Ranger2 at the Newton County Sheriff's Office.  Ranger2 told me the victims' names, subject1 and subject2.  According to Ranger2, both victims were recovered by divers soon after the incident.  Additionally, Ranger2 gave me two witness statements obtained from witness1 and witness2.  After reading the witness statements, I photographed the vessel which was recovered from the lake the previous evening.  The vessel subject1 and subject2 were in was a 12 foot jon boat that did not have a hull identification number or vessel registration.  Additionally, the vessel did not have a manufacturer decal or a capacity plate.  I observed two trolling motor batteries, miscellaneous fishing gear, a type four throwable device, and a stern mounted trolling motor on the vessel.  No wearable personal flotation devices had been located at the scene or in the vessel.  I noticed the vessel appeared to have very little built in flotation, and did not appear to be of very study construction.  After photographing the vessel I left it at the sheriff's office, and advised them they could release the vessel to the family.  
  
  Approximately a week after the incident, I was able to contact witness1 and witness2.  Both witness1 and witness2 were in a vessel on Lake Varner at the time of the incident in the cove adjacent to the boat landing.  Witness1 told me she did not really see anything.  Witness2 told me he saw subject1 and subject2 alone in their boat in the cove.  Witness2 said at approximately 1700 hours he looked over and saw only the front of the victims vessel sticking out of the water.  Witness2 said he saw both victims trying to swim, and attempted to get to them in an effort to help.  Witness2 said when he got approximately 50 yards away the victims went under the water and did not resurface.  Witness2 said he did not see any wearable personal flotation devices floating in the cove.  Additionally, Witness2 did not know which victim had been driving the vessel.  Witness2 said the wind was blowing very hard at the time of the incident, and he was thinking about taking off the lake due to the water becoming rough and dangerous.  
  
  According to subject1 and subject2's autopsy reports, their combined weight was 497 pounds.  With the addition of the two trolling motor batteries and fishing gear, the vessel contained more weight.  After interviewing witnesses and observing the victim's vessel, it is in my opinion that a combination of poor flotation, high winds, and the vessel carrying a considerable amount of weight inside caused it to take on water and sink.  The lack of wearable personal flotation devices in the vessel was a contributing factor to the victims drowning after the vessel took on water.  
  
  This report is a true and accurate statement based on witness statements and knowledge acquired through investigation.  My conclusion contained is based solely on information given to me at the time of this investigation and may change with the discovery of any new information.
  