On April 26, 2023, I GWFC was dispatched to Blue Springs Boat Landing for a boat that had been recovered. Before responding to the location, I collected the boat registration from Subject1 and contacted the last registered owner. Owner informed me that her boyfriend, Subject2, was the person that should be with the boat and was known to be staying at her houseboat in another state. 

	I arrived at Blue Springs Boat Landing around 2:00pm and met with Subject1. Subject1 informed me that he noticed the bow of a boat sticking out of the water near a log jam. He then tied his PWC (Personal Watercraft) to the bow line of the boat to pull it out of the log jam. When Subject1 began pulling the boat, it came out of the water and planed out. Subject1 did not want the boat to sink again so he towed the boat to Blue Springs Boat Landing and called 911 to report the boat. I viewed the boat and made several observations. My observations are as follows: the throttle position was in neutral, the kill switch was still in place, the light switch for external lights mounted on the boat was in the on position, the only loose object in the boat was a gig, and the boat did not appear to have any damage other than scrapes and dents (normal damage for an aluminum hulled boat used on the Savannah River). 

	Subject1 showed me the location he recovered the boat from, and I collected multiple items from the water down river of the boat’s location. I then Located Owner’s houseboat, which was also down river from the boat’s location. I was unsuccessful with contacting Subject2 at the Houseboat. However, I did contact subject3 who later reported that he gained entry to the houseboat, and it appeared Subject2 had packed up to leave. I checked Subject2's truck that was parked at Poor Robin Boat Landing and did not find anything unusual. Subject4 reported seeing Subject2 in Pikes Creek at 5:00pm on April 25, 2023. 

With information collected through investigation, it appeared unlikely that Subject2 had exited the river. I began working the area the boat was located with side scan sonar. Game Wardens continued to search the area for Subject2's location on April 27, 2023, and April 28, 2023. On April 28,2023 at 10:30am, Cpl. located Subject2’s body floating in the river. Subject2 and his belongings were released to the Screven County Coroner and Subject2 was pronounced dead at the scene. Sgt. notified Owner that Subject2’s Body had been located and that Subject2 had drown in the river. Owner’s boat and trailer were stored at River Side Repair. 

On April 25, 2023, sometime after 5:00pm, Subject2’s boat capsized on the Savannah River, South of Pike Creek. As result of the boat capsizing, Subject2 entered the water and drowned in the Savannah River.

Savannah River
SYLVANIA                      