Body of Missing Man Found in Lake Okeechobee

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 14, 2018

Almost two weeks ago, Kayler and his friend, Kisiah, entered a fishing tournament in the town of South Bay. The tournament, which traditionally takes place at Lake Okeechobee and is hosted by the Fishing League Worldwide, attracts scores of people hoping to catch prize-winning angler fish. Kayler and Kisiah set out into the lake using Kisiah’s boat. At the end of the day, after all the other individuals who had competed in the competition were accounted for at the weigh-in spot located at C. Scott Driver Recreational Area, it became apparent that neither Kayler nor Kisiah had returned. A search was launched which included scores of officers with the Clewiston Police Department as well as volunteers using boats to comb the area for the two men.

At 11:30 at night, Kisiah was discovered. While he was alive, the specific condition of the man was not included in the report. Kayler, on the other hand, was not found. The second day of the tournament was canceled as authorities and volunteers deepened their search for the missing man.

It wasn’t until several days later, this past Wednesday, that the body of Kayler was found by members of a crew aboard a commercial ship sailing close to the Clewiston water tower (located on the lake). The Florida Wildlife and Conservation Commission issued a report on the finding of Kayler.

At the time of this writing, it is not clear whether or not an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding Kayler’s death. The various reports did state that the boat carrying both Kaylier and Kisiah capsized in the water, causing the two men to drop into the lake, however no explanation was given or suggested for the reason as to why the boat capsized in the first place. Weather conditions at the time of the tournament were not unusually adverse, and none of the other contestants reported capsizing boats or too-choppy water. Both Kisiah and Kaylier were not strangers to the water, and so it is likely that the Kayler’s family and friends will be looking for answers regarding the incident.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.