By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Law enforcement officers recovered the body of an 86-year-old Rocksprings man who apparently drowned in Lake Amistad on Friday after falling from his boat.
Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez told the 830 Times sheriff’s office investigators are still looking into the circumstances surrounding the death of Richard Alvin Herschap on Lake Amistad.
“It’s my understanding that Mr. Herschap was on Lake Amistad in a boat with his wife, and he was checking a trotline. Somehow, he fell into the water while checking the trotline and apparently drowned,” Martinez said.
Martinez said the incident occurred in the Rough Canyon area of the lake, and law enforcement was notified of the possible drowning at 12:39 p.m. Friday.
The sheriff said another fisherman who was in the area brought Herschap’s wife back to shore, then led game wardens and sheriff’s office investigators back to Herschap’s boat.
“The private citizen led law enforcement officers back to the area and using the depth finder on his boat, he was able to locate Mr. Herschap’s body,” Martinez said.
Law enforcement officers then recovered Herschap’s body, and the sheriff said Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Pat Cole pronounced Herschap dead and ordered an autopsy to formally determine the cause and manner of death.
Martinez said a game warden drove Herschap’s wife back to the couple’s home in Rocksprings.
Martinez said the sheriff’s office investigation into Herschap’s death is ongoing.
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