The man recovered from Portage Lakes’ East Reservoir July 15 was identified as Michael Ocepek, a 55-year-old male from Copley, according to a Summit County Medical Examiner news release.
His cause of death was ruled as a probable drowning, with the manner of death being an accident.
His body was recovered at approximately 11:15 a.m. after an hours-long search for a boater reported missing.
Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree said a boat trailer and truck were discovered at Old State Park.
“It appears as though the intent was to be fishing,” she said. “We just don’t know what transpired.”
What happened July 15 at Akron Yacht Club?
Coventry Township Fire Chief Adam Rockich said divers first located Ocepek’s body using newly received handheld sonar scanners called AquaEye at around 9:45 a.m. Ocepek was retrieved at 11:14 a.m. He was not wearing a life preserver.
When first responders arrived, they discovered Ocepek’s boat with a large amount of water in it and fishing equipment in the water.
“It was a smaller boat. Did it partially capsize, lean off to the side or something? There was a lot of fishing gear that was retrieved out of the water and some items, but there was still a cellphone in the boat,” Rockich said.
Search of Portage Lakes began early with unattended boat
A neighbor first noticed the boat on the water around 5:45 a.m. Wednesday with its navigation lights on, Rockich said. Around 6:30 a.m., the neighbor said the boat was still in the same area. Authorities were called around 7:35 a.m.
Multiple boats and divers searched Portage Lakes. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search.
The boat’s navigation lights were still on when crews reached the boat, and there was a significant amount of water inside, Rockich said. He said it appears that there was someone on the boat at the time.
A welfare check was conducted at a home in Copley Township, Rockich told WKYC, but the person associated with the boat was not there.
He told WKYC that authorities found a truck and boat trailer at a nearby boat ramp that are registered to the same person associated with the boat.
Fire chief urges boaters to wear life vests
Rockich urged boaters to wear life preserves in all weather conditions, especially at night and when alone.
“Anytime you’re out boating, especially in the middle of the night, by yourself, doing night fishing, having a life preserver on will help you get to shore and keep you afloat,” he said.
Bryce Buyakie contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 55-year-old Copley man who drowned Wednesday in Portage Lakes identified
Reporting by Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Lauren Cohen, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
