Body Of Navasota Man Found After Going Missing On Lake Travis

Austin TX

19 July, 2021

3:02 PM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — The body of a Navasota man was found Thursday after he went missing while swimming in Lake Travis on Fourth of July weekend. Lonnie Gray, 28, was found on the lake's shoreline around 11:30 a.m. Friday, according to deputies with the Travis County Sheriff's Office's Lake Patrol Unit. An investigation into the cause and manner of Gray's death is being conducted by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, officials said Saturday. Authorities said Gray was last seen swimming on July 3 in Hatter Cove, an area of Lake Travis that is 85-130 feet deep. MORE ON THAT STORY: Swimmer Goes Missing At Hatter Cove In Lake Travis Deputies said they received a 911 call of a missing swimmer at 4:53 p.m. Saturday, July 3. At 5:29 p.m., officials shifted from rescue efforts to recovery. The sheriff's office, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Jonestown Police Department and Fire Department, Lake Travis Fire & Rescue, Briarcliff Fire Department and Starflight engaged in recover efforts until dusk that evening, authorities said. TCSO's search grid encompassed several points where witnesses reported seeing Gray. Officials said the area is several football fields in length with groves of trees at the bottom, which are quite hazardous for sonar and divers. The sheriff's office said search efforts were continuous throughout the course of the week. Deputies started shoreline searches daily at 6 a.m. During daylight hours, TCSO's entire fleet of boats actively searched using various types of sonar. Texas Parks & Wildlife also assisted nearly every day, using their deep sonar, officials said. It took two weeks before authorities were able to recover Gray's body from the lake. RELATED COVERAGE: Austin ISD Teacher Killed In Hiking Accident In El PasoMissing Austin Hiker Found Safe In California National ParkTravis County Sheriff's Office Recovers Body In Devil's Cove