MARION COUNTY, Fla. — A woman’s body that was found in Lake Weir in Marion County has been identified as the woman who fell overboard early Friday, prompting an hourslong search.
Authorities said Jessica Demki, 22, fell from the body just before 4:45 a.m. Friday.
After a daylong search, Florida Fish and Wildlife officials found her boat at about 7 p.m. They identified the body as Demki's Saturday evening.
Photos: Search for missing boater
Investigators said there were five people aboard the boat when Demko somehow fell overboard.
Dive teams, deputies from two counties and officers with Florida Fish and Wildlife spent the day trying to find Demko.
“We had side sonar, divers, aviation units and multiple agencies with multiple boats on the water,” said Greg Workman, of FWC.
The people Demko was with said they tried unsuccessfully to find her.
“They did what they could to search, but at that time of the morning it was dark and it hindered their search,” said Workman.
While searching for Demko, deputies discovered the boat had been reported stolen.
http://twitter.com/MPriceWFTV/status/629763699050446848
Patrick Cotton, 22, was arrested and charged with grand theft.
Nearby residents were surprised by all the activity.
“I said, ‘Let me stop in to see if anyone is catching anything.’ And I saw all the action going on,” said nearby resident Bill Tompkins.
Officials said no one else on the boat is facing charges.
WFTV
