Press Releases

July 20, 2008

Missing 19-Year-Old Windham Man Recovered in Highland Lake

Windham – The Maine Warden Service tonight recovered the body of a 19-year-old Windham man who was missing and presumed drowned since Friday afternoon on Highland Lake.

Patrick Mackerron was located at approximately 8:25 p.m. by Warden Rick Stone on the west side of the lake.

More than 20 officials from the Maine Warden Service, the MWS Dive Team, the Maine State Police and the Maine Marine Patrol have been searching for Mr. Mackerron since he was reported missing at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday, July 18. They were assisted by the Windham Police Department and Windham Fire and Rescue.

Today’s search began at approximately 5 a.m., and continued throughout the day even though heavy rains fell on the area. By this afternoon, the search focused on a hole in the lake that was located through specialized mapping software owned by the Maine Warden Service and what’s called a side-scan sonar that is owned by the Maine State Police.

“The combination of this equipment was able to locate Mr. Mckerron,” said Maine Warden Service Lt. Patrick Dorian.

Mr. Mackerron was riding on a 20-foot Checkmate boat with three friends, Richard West, 38, of Windham, Nathan Jackson, 20, of Casco, and Richard Tarvers, 28, of Westbrook, when he and Mr. Jackson decided to jump off the moving boat. Mr. Jackson and Mr. Tarvers previously had jumped into the water off the boat.

“Mr. Jackson came up but Mr, Mackerron did not,” Lt. Dorian said.

Mr. Mackerron was taken to Dolby Funeral Chapel in Windham. The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office will determine a cause of death.

Friday’s search was suspended at approximately 8 p.m. due to harsh weather conditions, including lightning, in the area. The search resumed at 7 a.m. Saturday, and was suspended at approximately 3 p.m. because of severe weather. Visibility below the water’s surface was extremely limited, and depths of between 45 and 60 feet were searched. The water temperature at those depths was 44 degrees.

The incident remains under investigation.

Lt. Dorian said he is appreciative of the assistance given to rescue crews by the residents of Highland Lake and the Salvation Army.

“The people of Highland Lake and the Salvation Army were remarkably generous,” Lt. Dorian said. “Anything we needed to do, they helped make it happen. We thank them for their support.”

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