Indiana man drowns in Lake Monroe

A 33-year-old New Whiteland, Ind., man died Friday afternoon after drowning in Lake Monroe.

David Richards’ body was found about five hours after he went missing, said Angela Goldman, Indiana Department of Natural Resources spokeswoman.

A little before 1 p.m. Friday, Goldman said Richards’ boat was anchored and he was swimming with his children, his brother Shane Richards and his brother’s children.
Goldman said everyone in the boat was in a life jacket except for David Richards.

Goldman said the children were in the water and drifting a little farther away from the boat.

Shane Richards jumped in to bring one of the children back to the boat. David Richards jumped in after him but began panicking and asking for help because he was cramping.

Shane Richards swam over to him and tried to bring him back to the boat, but David Richards went under.

Indiana conservation officers and dive teams from Monroe County used a side scan sonar machine at about 4 p.m. to locate the body.

Richards’ body was found about 6:45 p.m.

Goldman said the depth of Lake Monroe varies from 5 feet to 60 feet. Richards was found about 40 feet down in an area called “Old Creek Channel.”