Sheriff: Body found in creek is missing swimmer
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
While doing a routine check of the East Monroe Falls area and Rattlesnake Creek, at approximately 7:15 a.m. Thursday crews found what is believed to be the body of Andrew Smith, according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward.
Smith has been missing since Monday evening after he dove off rocks nears the East Monroe Falls into the waters of Rattlesnake Creek. The concerted search for the 19-year-old Washington C.H. man was officially called off Wednesday at approximately 5 p.m., according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward. However, law enforcement continued to do regular searches of the water and the banks surrounding the falls and creek.
On Thursday morning, a body was found and Highland County Coroner Dr. Paul Terrell was called to the scene.
"He was in the areas that we thought he would be in, in the area of the falls and what we call the pool area below the falls," Ward told The Highland County Press. "It looks like he got, maybe, tangled up on some rocks. Positive identification obviously needs, to be made, and that kind of thing. We're in the process of getting the equipment down to make recovery. We have the family up here at the church. We have advised them and they are aware that we have located a body."
The East Monroe United Methodist Church on Monroe Road has been used as a staging areas for law enforcement and rescue crews throughout the search.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Ward said that it would take at least an hour to recover the body.
"It's going to be an hour process even longer to get him up out of there, Just with the rough terrain once we make recovery, " Ward said. "It's going to be especially difficult to get down there, and then once we make recovery to get the body back up out of the ravine. We've got a lot of manpower here, but it's just going to take a little time."
Ward said the situation in this search and recovery effort has been difficult for everyone involved, but at least there is now a resolution.
"It's kind of a good news/bad news situation," Ward said. "I just talked to the family and they are glad a resolution has been made. But the other side of it is, the bad news is that we found his body. But we'll do what we need to do here today and hopefully wrap things up over the next few hours."
On Wednesday, cadaver dogs from a private agency in Adams County had searched along the creek banks and from boats over the area of the water in which Smith was last seen, but Ward said "nothing of significance was found. There were a couple of indications (from the dogs) and those were thoroughly checked downstream. The conditions are extremely tough out there with the heat and humidity."
Ward said the search crews have not found any sign of Smith since he disappeared around 7:30 p.m. Monday. According to witnesses, Ward said, Smith and approximately five others were at the falls to swim. There allegedly was concern and discussion over the flow of the water, which was debris-filled due to recent heavy rains, Ward said. Smith eventually jumped feet-first into the water, according to witnesses. He surfaced twice, and witnesses said he indicated that he possibly was having trouble or was injured. Smith then disappeared into the water and has not been seen since.[[In-content Ad]]
Smith has been missing since Monday evening after he dove off rocks nears the East Monroe Falls into the waters of Rattlesnake Creek. The concerted search for the 19-year-old Washington C.H. man was officially called off Wednesday at approximately 5 p.m., according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward. However, law enforcement continued to do regular searches of the water and the banks surrounding the falls and creek.
On Thursday morning, a body was found and Highland County Coroner Dr. Paul Terrell was called to the scene.
"He was in the areas that we thought he would be in, in the area of the falls and what we call the pool area below the falls," Ward told The Highland County Press. "It looks like he got, maybe, tangled up on some rocks. Positive identification obviously needs, to be made, and that kind of thing. We're in the process of getting the equipment down to make recovery. We have the family up here at the church. We have advised them and they are aware that we have located a body."
The East Monroe United Methodist Church on Monroe Road has been used as a staging areas for law enforcement and rescue crews throughout the search.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., Ward said that it would take at least an hour to recover the body.
"It's going to be an hour process even longer to get him up out of there, Just with the rough terrain once we make recovery, " Ward said. "It's going to be especially difficult to get down there, and then once we make recovery to get the body back up out of the ravine. We've got a lot of manpower here, but it's just going to take a little time."
Ward said the situation in this search and recovery effort has been difficult for everyone involved, but at least there is now a resolution.
"It's kind of a good news/bad news situation," Ward said. "I just talked to the family and they are glad a resolution has been made. But the other side of it is, the bad news is that we found his body. But we'll do what we need to do here today and hopefully wrap things up over the next few hours."
On Wednesday, cadaver dogs from a private agency in Adams County had searched along the creek banks and from boats over the area of the water in which Smith was last seen, but Ward said "nothing of significance was found. There were a couple of indications (from the dogs) and those were thoroughly checked downstream. The conditions are extremely tough out there with the heat and humidity."
Ward said the search crews have not found any sign of Smith since he disappeared around 7:30 p.m. Monday. According to witnesses, Ward said, Smith and approximately five others were at the falls to swim. There allegedly was concern and discussion over the flow of the water, which was debris-filled due to recent heavy rains, Ward said. Smith eventually jumped feet-first into the water, according to witnesses. He surfaced twice, and witnesses said he indicated that he possibly was having trouble or was injured. Smith then disappeared into the water and has not been seen since.[[In-content Ad]]