Staff Reports
The Bartholomew County Coroner’s office and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are investigating the death of a teen, whose body was found in 12 feet of water at the Tipton Lakes swimming area on Columbus’ west side Saturday night.
Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting identified the victim as Tyrell D. Bowers, 17, Columbus.
Bowers was a 2021 graduate of Columbus East High School, where he was a member of the East football and track teams.
A 911 call was made to the Bartholomew County Emergency Operations Center at 9:54 p.m. Saturday after Bowers disappeared in the Tipton Lakes swimming area that was 12-feet deep, according to investigators.
The body was recovered near a swimming platform, DNR investigators said.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies responded to the scene and Bowers was located at 11:24 p.m., Nolting said.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Nolting. An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday.
The investigation is ongoing, and an exact cause of death is pending autopsy results, Nolting said.
Agencies assisting with the recovery include Indiana Conservation Officers, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Police Department, Columbus Township Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department and Columbus Regional Hospital medics.
