By Erin Smith
The body of a Fayetteville man who was reported missing at Singletary Lake State Park last week, has been located, according to NC State Parks officials.
“At approximately 12:15 to 12:30 (p.m.) today the subject was viewed in the water – not located on sonar–located on the surface and that was the culmination of about a four hour effort this morning,” said Singletary Lake State Park Superintendent Ed Wilkerson.
Jesse Sgro, 23, was found in about 12 to 14 feet of water just off the end of the pier at Singletary Lake. Rescue workers from Duplin County, Bladen County and NC State Parks were searching the lake Saturday when Sgro was located, said Bladen County Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw.
Wilkerson described the week long search effort as “Herculean.” He said throughout the week there have been sonar searches of the lake, there have been K-9 units present, there have been search and rescue around the lake along the shore, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office helicopters have also assisted with the search.
“Our division is remorseful about the loss for his family and his friends,” said Wilkerson.
He also noted that there have not been any incidents of drowning in Singletary Lake or Bay Tree Lake in recent history. There have been drowning incidents at White Lake, said Wilkerson.
Wilkerson said the family was present at Singletary Lake State Park throughout the search effort. Members of the church group Sgro was with also assisted with some of the searches, said Wilkerson.
Sgro was at Singletary Lake State Park with a church group when he was reported missing. He was last seen on Singletary Lake in a canoe on Friday evening, April 6. When he did not return to the camp, members of his group attempted to locate him on Friday night. On Saturday morning, when he still had not returned to the camp, members of his group went to check the lake and notified Park staff Sgro was missing.
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