COLUMBUS, Ind. — A teen whose body was found in 12 feet of water at the Tipton Lakes swimming area on Columbus’ west side Saturday night had been playing football with a group of friends on the beach before diving into the lake from a platform to cool off.
Autopsy results for Tyrell D. Bowers, 17, Columbus, a 2021 graduate of Columbus East High School, are pending after the procedure was completed Sunday, pending toxicology results, Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting said Monday. Toxicology results commonly take two to three weeks.
Bowers was at the swimming area with a handful of friends late Saturday, when a 911 call was made to the Bartholomew County Operations Center at 9:54 p.m. saying Bowers had disappeared in the swimming area.
There are no lifeguards at the swimming area and it is unknown how much lighting was available at that time, investigators said. Indiana Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman Angela Goldman said friends and family told them Bowers was not an accomplished swimmer and divers found him near a swimming platform in the lake at 11:24 p.m.
Nolting pronounced Bowers dead at the scene.
Bowers was playing around with friends on the beach area, running football drills with his friends, when he stepped on the floating deck/platform going into the lake and jumped into the water to cool off, Nolting said.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
