SARDIS LAKE, Miss. — The search for a missing boater has now turned into a death investigation in Panola County.
Bobby Alliston of Hernando was last seen September 1 at the Sardis Lake Marina where he was working on his jet ski.
Now investigators want to know how he ended up dead in water 30 feet deep.
“It’s been a long three days,” said Panola County Sheriff Dennis Darby.
Darby announced Thursday morning the body of a missing boater had finally been recovered from the Sardis Lake Marina.
Sheriff Darby said the body of 55-year-old Alliston of Hernando was recovered after an intense three-day search.
Darby said Alliston was last seen September 1 and was apparently alone while attempting to attach a jet ski to a pontoon boat.
“To pull to another location. And the Marina authorities called when they saw the boat floating off and drifting,” said Darby.
Numerous search and rescue personnel converged on the Marina which located in the southwest corner of Sardis Lake.
“We were working from “sun up to sun down.” everyday. At night after it got real dark we’d “call it.” And we would start back up at first light the next morning,” said Daniel Cole, Director of Panola County Emergency Operations.
Cole described the Marina water as so “murky” divers had trouble seeing anything below the surface and had to use sonar.
He said divers also encountered a lot of debris left from storm that damaged the Marina in 2011.
Thursday morning cadaver dogs “hit” on an area near the bank of the Marina and Alliston was found in about thirty feet of water.
While it’s unknown how the man ended up in the water, Sheriff Darby urged boaters to always be careful.
“Try to be with somebody, with someone. And if there’s an accident, you have someone who can immediately help you,” said Sheriff Darby.
Alliston’s body was sent to the Medical Examiner in Jackson.