SYNOPSIS

On July 23, 2023, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Subject1 jumped from the starboard (right) side of a vessel (boat) into the water at Brantley Lake. The vessel was in motion and out of gear during this time. The vessel was 100-150 yards from the shoreline. Depth of this area is 8-14 feet. Once Subject1 entered the water, he began to swim to the shoreline for a short time. Subject1 stopped swimming and began to yell for help. The driver of the boat and citizens on personal watercraft in the area began to head to his location to provide assistance. Subject1 became submerged underwater for more than 8-9 minutes and never resurfaced. The body of a male adult matching the description of Subject1 was recovered by the New Mexico State Police Dive Team on July 24, 2023, at approximately 10:37 a.m. Pending autopsy results by the Office of the Medical Examiner for identification of Subject1. 

NARRATIVE

Operator informed me his daughter brought Subject1 to the lake. Operator's daughter asked for him to take them for a ride. Operator, Subject1, and his daughter went out for a ride on the vessel after eating. During their return to the shoreline Operator put the vessel in neutral while coming up to the shoreline and turned off the boat. Subject1 jumped in the water and said he would swim to shore. Daughter saw Subject1 struggling and told her father he was yelling for help. Operator turned his boat back on, backed his boat up, and turned it around. Operator went to the area where Subject1 was last seen but did not see him in the water. Operator used his air horn when he got to Subject1's location to inform other boaters. Operator jumped into the water to try to find Subject1. Subject1 was not located. People on personal watercraft assisted them to look for Subject1. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Law Enforcement were called. When law enforcement arrived, Operator assisted by taking them on his boat to search. Subject1 was not located. During a phone conversation with Operator on the day of the incident, he informed me that Subject1 jumped off the port side of the boat. During my follow-up interview, Operator stated he didn't know exactly where Subject1 was standing when he jumped in because he was watching in front of him. He also added that Subject1 was wearing a life jacket and took it off to jump in the water. 

Daughter, passenger, informed me that she and Subject1 were best friends and that her father invited her to the lake to ride the boat. Daughter stated that Subject1 had one beer. Daughter, Operator, and Subject1 went for a ride on the boat. During their return to shore Subject1 took off his shirt and told Daughter he was going to swim back. Subject1 jumped off the starboard side of the boat into the water. Subject1 began to swim to the shore. Daughter looked back and saw Subject1 dog-paddling and yelling for help. She told her father that Subject1 was yelling for help. Her father turned the boat around and headed in Subject1's direction. Daughter never saw Subject1 resurface. When I asked Daughter if Subject1 was wearing a life jacket; she said no. 


New Mexico State Police Dive Team recovered the body of a male adult matching the description of Subject1 July 24, 2023, at approximately 10:37 a.m. Pending autopsy results by the Office of the Medical Examiner for identification of Subject1. This Concludes my Involvement of this Incident.

Brantley Lake
Carlsbad                      