Drowning Victim in Lake DuBay Recovered, Identified

OnFocus – The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced today the recovery of the drowning victim missing since Friday, August 21, 2020 at 6:23 PM.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Wardens conducted a joint search of Lake DuBay (Wisconsin River side) north of the Seagull Drive boat landing starting on Friday evening, August 21. The search continued during daylight hours on Saturday, August 22, and was completed today at 2:54 PM when the 21 year-old victim, Jesse T. Buchanan (resident of Marshfield, WI) was recovered by divers from the Marathon County Dive Team.

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office offers its condolences to the family of Jesse Buchanan for their tragic loss.

Buchanan was a member of Marshfield Bandits LImitied football team, and in a public Facebook post the team expressed the following:

“Last night the Marshfield Bandits tragically lost a member of our football family. Jesse was a team leader both vocally and by example. An impact player, always finishes the play whether in practice or in the game, he never took a play off. As good of a dynamic athlete as he was on the field, he was a better man off the field. His presence will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers will be with Jesse’s family, friends and loved ones while they grieve through this sudden, unexpected loss. Rest in peace Jesse Buchanan.”

The search was conducted using the Marathon County Dive Team towed side scan sonar, imaging sonar, and the Wisconsin DNR hull mounted side scan sonar. A number of underwater objects potentially being the victim were detected and investigated during the search. At approximately 2:54 PM today’s date, Conservation Wardens observed another submerged object potentially being the victim on their sonar, at which time Marathon County divers deployed to investigate. The object was confirmed to be the victim and the divers recovered the victim’s remains.

This incident is being investigated by both the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office.

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