Boat recovered, Wetumpka man still missing
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
A boater from Wetumpka remains missing after launching on the Alabama River in Autauga County, although his boat has since been recovered.
Initially on January 11, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, or ALEA, reported that troopers with the agency’s Marine Patrol Division, along with ALEA’s Aviation Unit, were assisting with the search and rescue effort concerning a missing boater.
ALEA reported that at approximately 5:30 a.m. Saturday, January 10, 54-year-old James R. Dawkins of Wetumpka launched what was believed to be a 12-foot Jon-boat equipped with only a trolling motor near Shelton Landing on the Alabama River in Autauga County. ALEA further reported at the time that no contact had been made with Dawson since he launched the vessel and that he was currently missing.
Agencies who initially assisted with the search and rescue effort included the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Autauga County Rescue Squad, the Millbrook Police Department, and the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency.
On January 12, ALEA reported that Dawkins had yet to be located, but that the ALEA Marine Patrol troopers and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, along with the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency, were continuing the search and rescue efforts.
Last Thursday, January 15, ALEA reported that the 12-foot Jon-boat Dawkins launched on January 10 has been recovered.
The vessel was recovered by the Selma-Dallas County Rescue Squad at approximately 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, January 14, on the Alabama River south of the Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam in Dallas County. The boat was approximately 92 miles from the initial launch site.
It was reported at the time that ALEA Marine Patrol troopers, along with ALEA’s Aviation Unit, were continuing search efforts, which had expanded greatly since the vessel’s location and recovery.
Given the expanded search area, the Unified Command Post located at Cooter’s Pond on the Alabama River in Autauga County was deactivated at that time.
Agencies who continue to assist with the search are the Elmore County Emergency Management Agency, Autauga County EMA, Montgomery County EMA, Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, Millbrook Police Department, Prattville Fire Department, Autauga County Search and Rescue, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
As of press time, Capt. Jeremy Burkett with ALEA said Dawkins has still not been found, and the search remains ongoing.
“ALEA Marine Patrol and ALEA Aviation have continued to search, but the search area is quite large and they haven’t found anything else, at least not yet,” Burkett said.
Because of the off-and-on potential extreme winter weather conditions, ALEA has asked the public to avoid initiating their own search efforts related to this incident. However, if anyone is on or near the Alabama River and notices anything unusual, they are asked to contact local authorities immediately.
