The Eastaboga community is mourning the death of Dedric L. Brown, a 54-year-old local man whose disappearance while boating on Hillabee Reservoir ended Wednesday with the recovery of his body from the Calhoun County waterway.
Brown was last seen at approximately 7:30 a.m. Monday, September 7, while operating an aluminum jon boat on Hillabee Reservoir. He was reported missing around noon that day, prompting a search involving Alabama Law Enforcement Agency marine patrol officers, rescue personnel and other assisting agencies.
The search continued for more than two days as crews worked across the reservoir in an effort to locate Brown. On Wednesday afternoon, a group with Christian Aid Ministries located his body at approximately 2:10 p.m. Authorities said Brown was found about 26 feet beneath the surface and within the initial search area. A dive team subsequently recovered his body approximately 28 minutes after it was located.
His recovery brought an end to the immediate search operation and provided a measure of closure to a difficult search for his family and those involved in the effort. For Brown’s loved ones, however, the discovery marked the beginning of a painful period of mourning following the sudden loss of a 54-year-old member of their community.
The circumstances surrounding Brown’s death remain under investigation. ALEA Marine Patrol troopers are continuing to investigate the boating incident, and authorities have not publicly established a definitive cause or manner of death.
At this stage, it would be premature to assume that Brown drowned or that his death was caused by a particular boating accident. The available information does not establish whether he experienced a medical emergency, fell into the water, encountered a problem with the vessel or died under another circumstance. Any determination will depend on the ongoing investigation and findings from the appropriate authorities.
The search itself involved a coordinated effort among multiple agencies and organizations. Marine patrol personnel and rescue teams worked to search the reservoir, while members of Christian Aid Ministries ultimately located Brown beneath the surface. Their efforts brought the search to a conclusion Wednesday afternoon.
For the Eastaboga community, Brown’s disappearance had been a source of concern since Monday, as family members, friends and others waited for news of his whereabouts. The recovery of his body has now brought the devastating confirmation that many had feared.
Brown’s death leaves those who knew him facing the loss of a man who had been part of the Eastaboga community. As his family and friends begin to grieve, the circumstances of his final hours remain a matter for investigators to determine.
No confirmed cause of death had been publicly released at the time of the available report. Additional information could emerge as ALEA continues its investigation and any medical examination is completed.
Dedric L. Brown, 54, of Eastaboga, is remembered following his death after he went missing while operating a boat on Hillabee Reservoir. His recovery brought an end to the search but left a grieving family and community seeking answers about what happened on the water.
