RedactedNarrative: On March 12, 2015 I received a call from Lieutenant (Lt.) telling me I was assigned as the case agent on a Hart County drowning incident that involved one adult male and a kayak dated on February 11, 2015. Lt.  said the operator of the vessel had surfaced on March 8, 2015. Lt. said the family wanted the operator’s personal belongings. Lt. told me to get in touch with Corporal (Cpl.) and make arrangements to receive the information and items from the incident and to determine if the vessel and personal items could be released to the family.
  
  I photographed the kayak, which was an 11’ Perception Sport Rhythm Kayak, green/blue in color, HIN WEMGWSLCC414. (See 17315021101 photo log). 
  
  The operator was found floating March 8, 2015, by fisherman on Lake Hartwell near the new Harbor Light Marina on the Georgia (GA) side. Operator had been missing since February 11th 2015. Operator had launched his kayak from Lake Hartwell State Park in Oconee County, South Carolina (SC). Operator’s kayak had been located upside down, between two docks on Lake Hartwell close to Knox Circle, on the GA side. Cpl. said the paddle was located directly across the lake from the kayak on the SC side. Cpl. said Oconee County dive members pulled up to an island near Rock Springs boat ramp where they found beer bottles along with foot prints on the island. The lot numbers on the beer bottles were consistent with the beer bottles that were found inside the kayak. A search was conducted for several days that included assistance from other agencies including GA Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement (DNR LE), Hart County Sheriff’s Department, Hart County Fire Department, Oconee County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and SC DNR. GA DNR LE used sonar equipment to try to locate the victim.
  
  Reports state on February 13, 2015, DNR LE suspended the search due to extremely cold temperatures and a wintery weather forecast. Daily patrols of the area were conducted for the victim’s body. On March 8, 2015, fisherman in the Shoal Creek area of Lake Hartwell discovered a body floating in the back of a creek just past Harbor Light Marina South. Cpl. responded along with the Hart County Sherriff and Hart County Coroner. The body was sent to the GBI crime lab for testing and analysis. According to the GBI report, it was confirmed that the body was identified as operator, and the cause of death was an accidental drowning.
  
  Based on the physical evidence at the scene and the statements from DNR LE Officers and Hart County Investigator, the facts show that Operator was kayaking on Lake Hartwell on February 11, 2015. During his kayaking trip Operator accidentally drowned. Operator had the required safety equipment on board.