On 10/8/2023 at approximately 1601 hrs Russell County Sheriff's Office Dispatch received a report of a possible drowning on Wilson reservoir near the elm creel boat ramp. The caller’s husband Victim had fallen from their vessel while she was sleeping. Caller heard a thump and splash and could not see Victim. Caller then called the Russell County Sheriff's office to report the drowning. 

At approximately 1640hrs Game Warden arrived at to the vessel caller was on. At the time of arrival Caller was the only person on the vessel and the throttle was in neutral with the engine off. Warden then anchored Callers vessel and took Caller to shore on Warden's patrol boat. Later in the day Game Warden drove Caller's boat to the elm creek boat ramp on Wilson reservoir where the Russell County Sheriffs office loaded and inventoried the boat. 

Game Wardens spoke to two separate fishermen on separate boats who were fishing east of where the incident occurred and told Wardens they remembered the boat the Caller's were in and no other boats were in the area of the incident. 

The closest of the fishermen was an off duty highway patrolman. From 10/8/2023-10/12/2023 Russell County Sheriff's office, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, The Army Corp of Engineers, and the Kansas Highway Patrol searched for Victim in the area Caller was when she called 911. Victim's body was spotted floating west of where the 911 calls were pinged approximately 200 meters. Victim's body was recovered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks. Game Wardens were on the vessel when the recovery was made. 

It was apparent Victim had been struck by the propeller of a boat and was then turned over the Russell County Sheriff's office for an autopsy. The initial autopsy report was Victim died from a propeller strike and did not drown. On the afternoon of 10/12/2023 Warden and Russell County Sheriff's deputy interviewed Caller at her house. 

During this interview Caller claimed she did not remember driving the boat at all on 10/8/2023. After the interview Warden seized Caller's vessel and towed it to a KDWP Boat House for investigation. Prior to moving Warden wrapped a trash bag around the lower unit of the vessel to preserve evidence during transport. On 10/13/2023 Game Warden Boating Officers met Warden to inspect the vessel. 

Wardens found no evidence of an impact on the bottom of the vessel. While examining the propeller Wardens found their to be light in color smear marks on the propeller. The smears were inconsistent with a different smear pattern on each blade. They then had Waconda boats unbolt the propeller while Officer1 removed and placed the propeller into a box and sealed it with evidence tape. 

On 10/16/2023 Officer1 took the propeller to the Kansas Bureau of Investigations lab in Great Bend for DNA  Analysis. On his return he met with the Russell County Sheriff and Undersheriff to give them an update and get GPS points from them. On 10/17/2023 Officer1 received the Coroners Report and spoke with the Coroner. Dr explained to Officer1 that victim died from the injuries of the propeller strike and did not drown. There was no bruising or skeg marks on his body showing the vessel that struck victim was not moving at a high rate of speed. Dr stated victim’s left arm was at his side at the time of the incident and victim was not backed over.
Wilson Reservoir
Bunker Hill                   