Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents and St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Office (STPSO) deputies responded to a single fatal boating incident in the West Pearl River last night, June 15.
The body of Chad Panks, 33, of Pearl River, was recovered around 9 p.m. by the STPSO Marine Division and then turned over to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office to determine an official cause of death.
According to family members, Panks was with his dog in his 15-foot aluminum vessel traveling to his houseboat around 2 a.m. on June 15. Panks’ dog showed up at his residence alone around 3:30 p.m.
Family memberes initiated a search and found Panks’ sunken boat around 4:30 p.m. and notified authorities. LDWF agents an STPSO deputies immediately started a search for Panks at that time.
LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident. Panks’ body was found without a personal flotation device. Agents believe at this time that Panks’ vessel struck a submerged tree in the water causing it to sink.