Two Men Found Dead in Separate Drownings at Lake Cumberland
The twin recoveries expose the lake’s search challenges and leave causes under coroner review with forensic testing pending.
Overview
- Over the weekend two men who entered Lake Cumberland did not resurface and their bodies were recovered by local rescue teams from different parts of the lake.
- Pulaski County deputies identified 66-year-old Ricky Turner of London as a man who reportedly jumped from a boat in the Pitman Creek area and whose body was recovered after underwater searches in deep, zero-visibility water.
- Russell County officials said 42-year-old Andy W. Schmidt of Lexington went swimming in the Wolf Creek area, was found by Russell County Search & Rescue, and was ruled a drowning with toxicology results still pending.
- Somerset Pulaski County rescue crews searched Saturday and paused overnight before recovery teams using an underwater drone and divers located Turner the following day.
- Both county coroners have opened investigations, authorities say the incidents occurred in separate locations and do not appear related, and officials urged lake safety as forensic testing continues.