Man arrested in Lake Monroe drowning

An autopsy by the Monroe County Coroner’s office determined that a 29-year-old Anderson, Ind., man died Saturday at Lake Monroe from asphyxia as a result of drowning and choking.

Victim Matthew Hosier’s death has been ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office, resulting in three arrests.

Indiana Conservation Officers investigating the incident reported that Hosier was involved in an altercation with an acquaintance Saturday after they and others returned to the Fourwinds Marina in a pontoon boat the group had rented at approximately 6 p.m.

During that altercation, suspect Dillon Barrett, 22, also of Anderson, Ind., allegedly placed Hosier in a choke hold before both men went off the dock and into the water, according to a press release.

At 6:20 p.m., Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement received a report of a possible drowning. When the first Indiana Conservation Officer arrived on the scene at 6:28 p.m., the officer reported observing two people who appeared exhausted and intoxicated in the water.

Officers then attempted to secure the scene and performed rescue and recovery efforts for Hosier. But at that time, the DNR reports that one of the suspects, Justin Austin, 22, became combative with officers and was restrained.

Rian Lemons, 33, who was also an acquaintance of Hosier, then allegedly became combative with officers. He was also restrained, according to the release.

Dive team members located Hosier in the water at about 6:44 p.m. He was later pronounced dead at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
 
Barrett was arrested for battery resulting in serious bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter, both C felonies. Lemons and Austin are each being charged with disorderly conduct, C misdemeanors, and public intoxication, B misdemeanors.

Phil Bloom of DNR Communications said the case is still under investigation.

— Mark Keierleber