MANY, La. — Two men have died in a boating accident that investigators believe may have been weather-related, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Tuesday.
The bodies of George Diboll, of Oakdale, and Marvin Parsons, of Lafayette, both 62, were found at Toledo Bend Reservoir — the South's largest manmade lake at about 280 square miles.
They launched their 18-foot boat about 10 a.m. Friday at Solon's Boat Launch in Noble to go fishing on the reservoir along the Texas-Louisiana state line. Agents reported that at midday Friday, a cold front brought winds of nearly 30 miles an hour and temperatures plunged into the high 20s, department spokesperson Adam Einck said.
The men were reported overdue on Saturday afternoon. Diboll’s body was found that night, and Parsons’ body and the boat were found on Monday afternoon.
Searchers included Wildlife and Fisheries agents, Sabine Parish sheriff’s deputies, the DeSoto Fire and Rescue Dive Team, Texas Parks and Wildlife workers, soldiers from Fort Polk, and volunteers.
Agents suspect that bad weather led to the fatal boating incident, which is being investigated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The bodies of Diboll and Parsons were turned over to the Sabine Parish Coroner’s Office to determine an official cause of death.
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