On 3/15/2023 at approximately 00:07, I Conservation Officer Sgt. received a call from KSP Post dispatch stating that there had been a drowning in Washington County. After speaking with Officers of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office; I learned that the body had already been recovered and was going to be sent for autopsy. 

       The initial call was made to Washington County 911 at approximately 22:40 on 3/14/2023 by Operator’s wife. Wife told dispatch that she was concerned that her husband had fallen into their pond. She stated that his boat was not tied up to the dock where it normally was, his ATV was parked near the water, and their dog came running up from the pond area without her husband.
 
       Wife gave a written statement to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office according to that statement the last time she talked to her husband on the phone was around 18:00 when her husband was at the gym.  Wife returned home around 21:48 and noticed that the ATV was not in the garage, so she went inside and got a flashlight. When she shined the flashlight on the pond, she could see the ATV next to the pond and the boat floating on the water. After yelling for her husband and receiving no response she became concerned that her husband had fallen in, so she went to the neighbors for help. Once she seen the buckets of concrete that her husband had made to sink fish habitat were gone, she knew where he was and called 911.  

       The neighbor also gave a statement to the Washington County Sheriffs Office according to his statement: he received a call from victim’s wife at approximately 22:30 stating that she could not find her husband. He then went down to the pond with a flashlight where he could see victim under the water. 

       The body was recovered by members of Willisburg Fire Department utilizing the boat that was on scene. Witnesses that pulled the body from the water stated there was some pink string wrapped around his right foot, but it did not have him anchored. He and was pronounced dead at 23:40 by Washington County Coroner. 

       There were no witnesses to the expected drowning so one can only speculate what events led to Operator entering the water that caused to his death. Photographs show that he did have a small injury to his forehead and string wrapped around his right foot. It is unknown if Operator hit his head prior to entering the water, it is also unknown if the string around his foot prohibited his swimming ability in any way. It is worth noting that his wife stated that her husband was afraid of water and could not swim. Operator had also had back surgery back in October and was still on medication. These are all possible contributing factors. 
 
*Autopsy report is attached lists cause of death as drowning. 
*Washington County Sheriff’s Office will be carrying the death investigation 


Private Pond
SPRINGFIELD                   