Rescue workers found a 22-year-old man’s body in the waters of Lake Keowee Monday morning, two days after he was reported missing. Indiana native Brian Smith was last heard around 2:00 a.m. Saturday, according to Oconee County officials. A paddleboat Smith was believed to have taken out on the lake was found later that day, according to Oconee County Emergency Services fire chief Charlie King.
Crews found Smith’s body at 7:00 a.m. Monday about a half mile above the Keowee Dam.
King said it was too early to know why Smith was on the lake in the darkness, although he said the circumstances could shed some clues.
“He had some civil issues with his girlfriend that night and left some messages on his Facebook page and text messages that indicated he was going to do harm to himself,” King told South Carolina Radio Network.
Oconee County Emergency Management director Scott Krein said Smith, of Anderson, Ind., had been to the lake numerous times since he was a boy.
Matt Long contributed to this report
