Overview
- A private recreational boat took on water, capsized and sank on Geneva Lake during a rapidly developing storm on July 3, and rescue teams pulled seven people from the water.
- Divers later located the sunken vessel in about 32 feet of water near Big Foot Beach State Park and recovered three missing children who were pronounced dead.
- Families have identified the victims as Kathryn “Kate” Schmidt, 10, and cousins Caleb Oswald, 6, and Abigail Oswald, 7, and have opened GoFundMe memorials that will direct proceeds to children’s charities.
- Officials said each child was wearing a properly fitted life jacket and that preliminary medical findings showed no external injuries, with the deaths consistent with freshwater drowning.
- The National Weather Service estimated peak winds of roughly 90–100 mph during the storm, and local law enforcement with Wisconsin DNR support are leading ongoing investigations to determine the full sequence of events.