COLUMBUS, OH - The body of Roy Morgan Jr., 29, of 472 Barcher St., Columbus, was recovered at about 7:05 a.m. today in Buckeye Lake, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). A private boater spotted the body floating between Fireman's Park and Harbor Hills in a portion of the lake that lies in Licking County. The body was turned over to the Licking County coroner's office for autopsy.
Officers with the ODNR divisions of Watercraft and Parks & Recreation continue to investigate the incident surrounding Morgan's disappearance into lake waters at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 19. Results of that investigation will be turned over to the Licking County prosecutor's office for further action.
A variety of state and local authorities participated in the search for Morgan, including state watercraft and parks officers, as well as representatives of the Licking and Fairfield county sheriffs' offices, the Tri-County Dive Team and the Buckeye Lake Police Department. Firefighters and medics assisted from the Thornville, Heath, Millersport, Licking Trails, Newton Township, Madison Township and Newark fire departments. Searchers worked from 7 p.m. until midnight on Saturday and 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. The search resumed at 9 p.m. Sunday and continued until the body was located today.
The ODNR Division of Watercraft administers Ohio's boating programs, including watercraft registration and titling operations. The division investigates boating accidents and related fatalities, and enforces state boating laws on Ohio's waterways.