Operator #1 Stated in Effect:  Operator #1 drowned as a result of this accident and was pronounced deceased on 7/25/2023 at 1426hrs by Dr. of Denville Saint Claire's Hospital.

     Investigation at Scene Revealed:  On Monday, 7/24/2023 at 1:59PM, NJSP Communications received a phone call from subject who stated that her husband had left their house in his vessel at 10:00AM on the above date and had not returned when he stated.  Subject advised that her husband normally takes his vessel to Henderson Cove on Lake Hopatcong and goes swimming for approximately one hour in the morning.  She noted that her husband's extended absence was abnormal.  NJSP Marine Services Bureau Troopers and the family friends located Victim's vessel unoccupied drifted into a dock.  The shoreline of this location is on Lake Hopatcong in Henderson Cove, consistent with the information Subject provided.  Furthermore, the wind was determined to be between 7-14mph and blowing from the southeast.  This would have caused the vessel to end up in the location it was discovered if it was being operated in Henderson Cove.  The vessel was determined to be a 20 foot, white over blue Sea-Ray open vessel bearing NJ Registration.  The vessel was turned off and a rope was located drifting adjacent to it in the water.  Furthermore, a white Type IV throwable seat cushion style personal flotation device (PFD) was located floating at the brink of the shoreline next to the dock.  

     Interviews with family members and friends revealed that he would typically turn the vessel off in Henderson Cove and swim to the throwable PFD which was tied to the end of a cleated rope.  Additional information collected revealed that Victim would not wear a life vest and that his vessel was typically not at anchor while he engaged in swimming.  Contact was made with his wife. 

7/25/2023:

     On this date at approximately 9:00AM, members of the NJSP Marine Services Bureau conducted a subsurface sonar operation in the area of Henderson Cove on Lake Hopatcong.  Sonar imagery revealed the location of the body of the above missing person.

     Based on the above information provided by the victim's friends and family, as well as the information gathered at the scene of the incident during this investigation, the undersigned determined that the following sequence of events took place:  Vessel #1 was being operated by the victim on Lake Hopatcong in the area of Henderson Cove in Hopatcong Boro on the date of Monday, 7/24/2023 between the hours of 1000hrs and 1359hrs.  At some point during this span of time, Victim turned off his vessel and allowed same to drift.  He then voluntarily left the vessel to swim in the water while using a Type IV seat cushion floatation device which he had attached to the rear port side cleat of the vessel with an eight-foot section of rope.  While engaged in swimming, the rope and floatation device detached from the vessel.  Victim ultimately drowned in the water of Henderson Cove approximately 100ft from the shoreline in front of 20 Thompson Lane, Hopatcong Boro.  Nothing was observed at the scene or on the vessel that would indicate foul play, or an injury being suffered.  The vessel was removed from the scene.

This case will remain an active investigation pending results of a possible autopsy.

HENDERSON COVE
HOPATCONG BOROUGH             