Body of missing 17-year-old boater at Lake Allatoona found Friday

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. - The body of a missing 17-year-old boy was recovered Friday afternoon from Lake Allatoona, bringing a tragic end to an intensive search that lasted less than 24 hours.

Jackson Cole Croft, of Woodstock, was found in 22 feet of water, just a few hundred feet from where his unmanned boat had been seen circling Thursday evening, according to officials with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

According to Mark McKinnon with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, at approximately 3:38 p.m., side-scan sonar picked up something in the lake. Shortly after, divers went into the lake and recovered Croft's body.

Croft's body was located in 22 feet of water, not far from where his 16-foot bass boat was found. 

What they're saying:

"Mr. Croft was found in 22 feet of water. He was found within a few hundred feet of where the boat was found circling, and like I said, he was found with side scan sonar and recovered very quickly," said Mark McKinnon with the Georgia DNR Law Enforcement Division.

Search crews used advanced sonar equipment to navigate a challenging section of the lake marked by varying terrain, including sand, submerged timber, and debris.

"It’s a very unusual part of the lake," McKinnon said. "There are a variety of different bottoms. Some areas had sandy bottoms, some had timber bottoms, and then there’s another area with a lot of debris."

Authorities are now investigating Croft’s boat to determine what led to the teen’s disappearance and death. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time he was found.

"It’s tragic, it’s devastating, and it scares me to death," said Blake Mulkey, a longtime fisherman at Lake Allatoona. "The same thing could happen to me or anybody."

Croft was well known in the local racing community. He recently began a career at Dixie Speedway, where he was following in the footsteps of his father.

"This dear family has been a huge part of Dixie Speedway's history and dear friends for many years," said Mia Green, Vice President of Dixie Speedway. "Really and truly, it’s just a tragic, tragic incident," added McKinnon.

What's next:

McKinnon emphasized that Croft’s death serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of water safety.

"From the large outpouring of support here for this family, you can tell he was a well-loved young man," he said.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Croft’s death is ongoing.

McKinnon says they probably won't know for some time what happened to cause Croft's death. He also said they are thinking of the family and hoping they can give them support and privacy in the days ahead.

ORIGINAL STORY

Authorities in Cherokee County are continuing their search for a 17-year-old boy after his empty boat was found circling near the Little River area on Lake Allatoona Thursday evening.

What we know:

Game wardens and Cherokee County fire crews have identified the missing teen as Jackson Cole Croft of Woodstock. Crews launched a search after an unoccupied boat was spotted drifting near the Little River area around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Officials say there have been a few sonar hits in the lake, but none have been connected to Croft. The operation has now reportedly shifted from a rescue to a recovery effort.

What they're saying:

"Our ultimate goal at this moment in time is to locate this young man and to help this family have some closure," said Mark McKinnon with Georgia Department of Natural Resources. "All of our agencies — Cherokee County, state DNR — we’re working together toward that."

Authorities confirmed that Croft was alone in a small boat at the time of his disappearance. Although he was believed to be familiar with Lake Allatoona, crews caution that parts of the lake can be tricky to navigate due to submerged trees, which may have contributed to the incident.

Divers and underwater cameras are actively being used in the search. 

What's next:

At around 3:15 p.m. Friday, DNR's Mark McKinnon provided an update on the search.

Unfortunately, they have not yet been able to locate the missing 17-year-old. McKinnon says they are using both sector-scan sonar and side-scan sonar in their search along with divers.

McKinnon also said they are searching an approximately 4-acre area with varying depths and lots of debris and timber. Additionally, there's a bend in the lake, which adds to the difficulty of the search.

However, McKinnon said they would not stop searching until they located the teenager. 

If they are unable to locate Croft this afternoon, they will return at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

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