Officials have recovered the body of an Eatonton man who drowned Saturday in the Oconee River, according to reports.

Jeffrey Roberts, 41, was swimming near the Wilkinson-Johnson County line when he disappeared underwater and never resurfaced, 13 WMAZ reported, citing the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

His remains were found at 7:30 p.m. Sunday after authorities with several agencies searched the water for hours, the station reported.

Roberts was rowing downriver with a group of canoers and kayakers from Milledgeville. The group spent Friday night at the Oconee Greenway and continued on the excursion Saturday, reaching the county line about 2 p.m., WMAZ reported.

That’s when Roberts went for a swim and vanished, Wilkinson County Coroner Bill Matthews told the station.

Game wardens were on the scene about 30 minutes later but were unable to locate Roberts. The next day, an aviation and dive team joined the search, along with deputies from Wilkinson and Johnson counties, who finally located the missing man, WMAZ reported.

No other details were provided.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Capt. Brantley Worley was responding to a report of a suspicious person Friday in McCaysville when he was shot. (McCaysville Police Department)

Credit: McCaysville Police Department

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com