The body 69-year old James Lowery, Sr. from Mapleton, Georgia was recovered by marine police after he went missing from an overturned kayak near Logan Martin Dam. Photo courtesy of SCCSO

The body of a missing kayaker, James Lowery, Jr., 69, from Mapleton, Georgia, was recovered by marine police early Sunday after an extensive week-long search. 

On the morning of Friday, March 9, two witnesses saw Lowery fishing at the Kelly Creek Boat Launch near Logan Martin Dam at approximately 8 a.m. but stated the kayak was overturned and the dam turbines turned on when they returned later during the day.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, Childersburg Rescue, Leeds and Pell City Dive Teams, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Marine Police, AL Game and Fish, and Tallapoosa County Rescue all assisted in the search operation that lasted over a week.

Marine Police were searching an area approximately eight miles from Kelly Creek Boat Launch, where Lowery was last seen, when they spotted his body floating in the river said St. Clair County Coroner Dennis Russell. 

The coroner stated they have completed an autopsy but do not currently have the results.