UPDATED 4:10pm Monday:
From the Henry County Sheriff's Department:
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the name of the victim in the possible drowning at Seals Lake off Skyview Trail. The victim’s name is Jose Luis Zaldivar-Padilla, 31-year-old male, from Collinsville, VA. We are still awaiting the results of the autopsy.
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Authorities pulled a body out a private lake in the Horsepasture area of Henry County on Sunday, after suspending their search on Saturday.
The private lake is located off of Skyview Trail and is known as Seals Lake. Authorities were called to the area after reports of a possible drowning in that area.
Right now in the investigation, it looks like alcohol could have played a factor in the death. We'll learn more information once the Medical Examiner performs an autopsy.
Here's more information from the Henry County Sheriff's Office:
On June 2, 2012 at approximately 8:00 p.m. deputies and investigators of the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a private lake off of Skyview Trail in the Horsepasture area of Henry County (known as Seals Lake) in reference to a possible drowning victim.
Several different, small groups (2-3 each) were there fishing at the lake at the time.
Indications from our preliminary investigation revealed that alcohol may have been a factor.
Divers from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Bassett Rescue Squad searched the area the victim was last seen in the water and after a couple of hours the search had to be suspended once conditions deteriorated and made it too dangerous for search personnel.
The search was resumed [Sunday] morning with personnel from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Bassett Rescue Squad, Fieldale Fire Department, Horsepasture Rescue Squad and other units.
The search effort was assisted tremendously by “Angler’s Choice,” a local marine sales and service company, with the loan of equipment and expertise.
At 1:15 p.m. [Sunday] afternoon a body was recovered about 40 feet from shore a short distance from where the subject was last seen in the water on 6-2-12.
The body was sent to the Medical Examiner’s office in Roanoke for an autopsy. Further information about the victim will be released pending results of the autopsy.
This incident is under investigation and authorities are seeking any information about this incident.
Anyone who may have been in the area or have any information is requested to contact the Henry County Sheriff’s Office at 276-638-8751.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Lane Perry would like to remind everyone to be safe as we enter the beginning of the water sports season. You should always be extra careful when in and around water, Never swim alone, and use approved flotation devices.
