According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, at approximately 3:50 PM on Wednesday, May 30^th, the Drew County Sheriff’s Department received a call from dispatch reporting that a six year old boy who had been swimming near the swimming area of Lake Monticello at the Highway 35 Access was missing. Members of the Sheriff’s Department along with several other first responders and the dive team entered the water to begin the search for the child. The mother told authorities that she and her children had been swimming and six year old Ben had been venturing out in the water. She had told him to go back toward the bank which he did. The mother said that she turned away for just a moment and when she turned back around he was gone.

At 5:22 the child was located approximately 55 feet from the edge of the shore about 8 to 10 feet under water. The child was unresponsive and transported by ambulance to Drew Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:05. Sheriff Mark Gober says “This is a tragic event and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”