Police believe death to be accidental after a body was found in Fulton lake following a drowning report
Lucas Geisler
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A body was found after several agencies were called to investigate a possible drowning at a Fulton park on Thursday.
Police Chief Bill Ladwig said rescuers were looking for someone in Morningside Lake. Ladwig said a 911 caller reported seeing someone in the water yelling for help around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“A witness stated that they had heard somebody yelling for help, but when we arrived we didn’t see anyone in the water,” Ladwig said.
Ladwig said FPD asked for assistance from nearby law enforcement after not being able to locate the victim.
Ladwig said in an update Tuesday evening that police were working to notify family members of the death, until then the victims name will not be released. The death is not being investigated as suspicious, according to Ladwig police believe it to have been an accidental drowning.
Other circumstances around the incident were not immediately made public. FPD said more details would be available once a full report is complete.
Sgt. Kyle Green with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said his agency helped with the search, and that at about 2 p.m. that a body was found. Ladwig said other agencies involved included the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and EMS and South Callaway Fire.
The sheriff’s office assisted by using their drone in the recovery efforts, whil South Callaway Fire and MSHP brought in water rescue boats to utilize, according to Ladwig.
Ramona Rohman and Raelynn Goll, students at William Woods University in Fulton, told ABC 17 News they visit the lake on a daily basis. However, they said they aren’t sure if they will come back now after hearing the news that someone drowned.
“Definitely not swimming in this lake, no,” Goll said.
“The locals even say nothing good happens after sunset here. So I guess even with the sun up, it’s not good,” Rohman said.
Rohman and Goll said the lake used to have a ‘No Swimming Sign’, but were unsure when it was removed.
Check back for updates to this developing story.