On Sunday, Aug. 27, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call regarding a male and female in distress who were kayaking on Delmoe Lake. Immediately, a Jefferson County Sheriff Deputy was dispatched to the scene along with Jefferson Valley EMS, Jefferson Valley Search and Rescue and Butte LifeFlight. A mutual aid request was also sent to Gallatin County Search and Rescue for their boat and dive team.
It was determined the male and female were on a single person kayak with a dog, which tipped over and subsequently sent the male and female into the water. Neither were wearing life jackets.
The male was able to swim to the opposite shore. LifeFlight subsequently located the female, identified as 20-year-old, Butte resident Abigail Richards, in the water and Jefferson Valley Search and Rescue was able to recover her from the water utilizing their own watercraft. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
– Eliza McLaughlin
