Details of the incident are unknown.  On 1/8/2023 USCG notified St. Tammany Sheriffs Office and LDWF around 9:30 AM in regards to an unmanned vessel adrift in Lake Ponchartrain near the Causeway Bridge.  the vessel was later recovered by USCG patrol vessel 29451 and towed to Marina Del Ray in Madisonville, LA.  

The missing subject's truck and trailer were located parked at the Mandeville boat harbor launch.  Fishing gear and an ice chest containing beer were located in the vessel.  The vessel's 15hp Yamaha tiller outboard was turned off and in neutral and the kill switch was attached to the motor.  

Upon returning to the location where the vessel was initially located, USCG vessel recovered an inflatable PFD that was inflated and the buckle of the PFD was unclipped.  Written on the PFD was a name in permanent marker.  LDWF along with USCG and STPSO Marine Division searched until dark and were unable to locate anyone. 

On 1/16/2023 the body of victim was located floating in Lake Ponchartrain.  The St. Tammany Parish Coroners office took possession of the body and performed an autopsy.  The preliminary findings of the autopsy indicated that the death was ruled an Accidental Drowning.  Toxicology results are pending.

Two empty beer cans were located in the vessel, PFD was inflated and located in the water near the drifting vessel.  Contributing factors are operator inattention, and alcohol consumption.  The type of incident is falls overboard.

Lake Ponchartrain
Mandeville                    