On the evening of TuesdayApril 25th, 2023 Texas Game Warden Captain and Texas Game Warden responded to Lake McCarty in Shackelford County. Shackelford County Sheriffs office advised that they received a report of a mising person, later identified as Deceased. 

Dispatch advised that a fisherman called in to dispatch on Tuesday at approximately 1737 hours to report that he had found a overturned Kayak floating on the north west side of the lake. He described to dispatch that there was something odd occuring. He advised that there was a white ford pickup in the parking lot, but had not seen anyone out there. He also advised that there is several beer cans on the bank near the flipped over kayak, as well as a ball cap floating in the water. 

Upon deputies arrival to the scene, the victims ex-wife, later identified  arrived as well. She advised that the pickup truck, kayak, and ball cap all were associated with her ex husband, the victim. She advised that she had last seen him on Monday evening. 
Upon the Game Wardens arrival, they began photographing evidence, as well as searching the lake for any signs of the victim. Upon nightfall, wardens suspended their search until the next morning. 

On Wednesday, April 26th, Game Warden Captain, Game Wardens 1,2, 3, deployed three boats that were equipped with Side Scan sonar imaging to aid in locating the victim.  Wardens searched the lake for approximately 12 hours. During this time, Game Warden K9 along with local and state police searched the land surrounding the lake. The victim and/or any further evidence was found.
 
On Thursday, April 27th, Wardens continued to search the lake, without success.
 
On Friday, April 28th Game Warden and I, Game Warden 2 were searching the lake for the victim. At approximately 08:31 hours, we were travelling the north bank of the lake in our patrol boat when we both observed the top of a head floating above the water surface (N. 32.65926 W. -99.36639). As we approached, we took photographs and activated our Body Worn Cameras. Warden called the Sheriff's office to advise that we located the victim and to get permission from Justice of the Peace to move the body from the water to the shore line. Upon getting permission, we decided we would transport the victim to the south side of the lake to a private boat ramp, in order to minimize the victims families exposure.
I noted that I did not see any noticable signs of injury or death in my initial observations of the victim.  Once we arrived at the private boat ramp with the victim, deputies and Justice of the Peace arrived shortly after. Justice of the Peace pronounced the victim deceased. We placed the Victim into a body bag and transported him to the private ranch road where we waited on Abilene Professional Services to arrive and to take possession of the body. Shortly after, Professional Servies took possession of the body. Justice of the Peace ordered an Autopsy be performed on the victim.
 
Game Warden Captain and Shackelford County Sheriff notified the victims family that he had been located and that he was deceased.

Upon locating the victim and completing the initial investigation, I did not observe any visible signs of injury that could have caused the death of the Victim. Based on the totality of the evidence present, I believe the victim accidentally drowned. The final investigation will not be completed until the Autopsy results are completed.
0481 MCCARTY
Albany                        