7:30 am Polk County Sheriff Office Update:
“After searching throughout the night, Marine Unit deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office located Aaron Tillman, deceased, at about 5:12 this morning, in an area of Lake McLeod that was about 13-feet deep. Please continue to keep his family and friends in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
——Original Press Release——-
Polk County Sheriff’s Office, FWC, and Polk County Fire Rescue searching Lake McLeod for missing 18-year old
The Marine Unit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching Lake McLeod for a missing 18-year old Eagle Lake man.
PCSO deputies were dispatched to the scene at about 3:05 pm Sunday, September 1, 2024. Polk County Fire Rescue and FWC also responded and joined in the search.
The victim has been identified as Aaron Tillman of Eagle Lake, a student at Ambassadors Christian Academy of Winter Haven, and a member of the football and wrestling teams.
PCSO detectives were told that Tillman and a 19-year old woman were kayaking approximately 150-yards from shore, in water that was about 12 to 15-feet deep.
According to the early stages of the investigation, neither Tillman nor the woman were wearing personal floatation devices. Family members said that Tillman could not swim, and has never been on a kayak before.
The woman told deputies that she jumped into the water from the kayak to swim, but when she resurfaced she saw Tillman in the water and struggling to stay above water. She told detectives that she did not know if he fell or intentionally got into the water.
Despite the efforts of the woman and a nearby witness who went into the water to help, Tillman disappeared in the water.
“We have had several boats from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, FWC, and Polk County Fire Rescue looking for this young man, and we will remain on scene until he is found. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Tillman’s family and friends, and we’re going to look for him like he was one of our own relatives.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The investigation remains ongoing.
