Body found at Braun Bay?

[neckdweller]

Per THe Dive’s Faceook post. Haven’t seen that anywhere else at this point.

To all of our fellow boaters and friends at Braun Bay yesterday, Saturday, August 3… Please contact Marine patrol if you know anything that happened between 12 PM and 7 PM yesterday. A body was found floating this morning and The MP would like any assistance in solving this matter. Our hearts go out to the family and we hope they find some answers to this horrible tragedy. We will be assisting as well with security footage from our restaurant. Thank you.

[joey2665]

Reported on the Winnipesaukee Facebook site the MP are at a home across from the BB sandbar and the sandbar is now open to boats to anchor


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[MAXUM]

https://www.wmur.com/article/body-found-in-lake-winnipesaukee-in-moultonborough/28601004

[Sue Doe-Nym]

How sad. A 34 year old man was swimming with friends, and when they didn’t see him, they figured he went off with others. Doesn’t add up to me, so will pay closer attention at 11’s news. Very very sad situation. How could you leave, not knowing?

[Slickcraft]

Union Leader article:

https://www.unionleader.com/news/safety/body-of-peterborough-man-recovered-from-lake-winnipesaukee/article_57309a8f-27f4-5380-adce-96d865911ac8.html?block_id=664693

[TiltonBB]

Only 34 years old.

From the Laconia Sun:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/local/body-found-in-winnipesaukee-identified-as-peterborough-man/article_096477e8-b7c6-11e9-9a1f-d344e426bbbb.html

[tis]

I just couldn't imagine leaving a friend behind and ASSUMING he left with somebody else. Wow.

[thinkxingu]

I just couldn't imagine leaving a friend behind and ASSUMING he left with somebody else. Wow.The only way I see it happening is if they had friends there or he had connected with another group which, given his age, is entirely possible.

Terribly sad situation.

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[ishoot308]

OK so friends left him there by accident...but how does a 34 year old man drown?? His friends were certainly not the cause of his drowning...

Something is very odd here...

Dan

[thinkxingu]

OK so friends left him there by accident...but how does a 34 year old man drown?? His friends were certainly not the cause of his drowning...

Something is very odd here...

DanI gotta think alcohol/blackout or accidental strike. Does seem crazy, though. I'd hate to be the guy who found the body--talk about a horrible memory imprint.

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[Sue Doe-Nym]

It’s a mystery.....perhaps there had been too much liquid refreshment? Not being judgmental, but it’s very strange...I can’t imagine ever leaving a swimming area, not being sure that everyone in the party is accounted for. Again, a very sad situation.

[Jeanzb1]

Agree with Sue Doe-Nym and thinkingo. Maybe a medical condition or too much drinking and he simply sunk and his body didn’t surface until the following day, but we will have to wait for autopsy results. Tragic.


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[Descant]

Giving the benefit of the doubt to the deceased's friends, I would expect they did some sort of search before leaving and had some basis for thinking he left with others. Highly unlikely that they would have expected a medical issue (cramps, heart attack?) for a young man who could have simply walked ashore if he was tired from swimming, etc. Autopsy will tell more.

[Patiently Watching]

I would be shocked if alcohol/drugs are not involved.
Given what I have seen at Braun Bay over the last few years, it seems it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The State of NH needs to address the rafting and partying over there before someone else ends up dead.

[tis]

I would be shocked if alcohol/drugs are not involved.
Given what I have seen at Braun Bay over the last few years, it seems it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The State of NH needs to address the rafting and partying over there before someone else ends up dead.

I agree with you.

[joey2665]

I would be shocked if alcohol/drugs are not involved.
Given what I have seen at Braun Bay over the last few years, it seems it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The State of NH needs to address the rafting and partying over there before someone else ends up dead.

That is a tremendous assumption you are making. The best thing would be to wait for the autopsy before we start casting stones at the people who raft in that area. (side note, I have never rafted there). Why would you think someone else could end up dead? I have been by and anchored across from there many times. Just a bunch of people having fun, I have never see anything life threatening

[thinkxingu]

That is a tremendous assumption you are making. The best thing would be to wait for the autopsy before we start casting stones at the people who raft in that area. (side note, I have never rafted there). Why would you think someone else could end up dead? I have been by and anchored across from there many times. Just a bunch of people having fun, I have never see anything life threateningEvery summer for the last six we have owned on Winni, there has been at least one tragic accident--diving, falling, etc.--and multiple reports of incapacitated interventions. It's not a tremendous assumption at all.

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[joey2665]

Every summer for the last six we have owned on Winni, there has been at least one tragic accident--diving, falling, etc.--and multiple reports of incapacitated interventions. It's not a tremendous assumption at all.

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Sorry I disagree and think it is best to wait for the autopsy? I may not have been around the lake all my life but have over the last 15 years. Yes there have been incidences with people operating under the influence, water sports incidents, falling off moving boats will under the influence but I do not recall a specific incident at one on the rafting sandbars where there was a severe accident or death where alcohol was the contributing factor. Maybe I’m wrong


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[Descant]

I would be shocked if alcohol/drugs are not involved.
Given what I have seen at Braun Bay over the last few years, it seems it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The State of NH needs to address the rafting and partying over there before someone else ends up dead.

That's a big leap for someone who is "Patiently Watching". Wait for the autopsy. Last time I was there, years ago, I admit, it was all family stuff, kids, float toys, etc. I don't know the NH criteria for labeling something as suspicious or not suspicious, but so far this has been declared non-suspicious.

[Taz]

I would be shocked if alcohol/drugs are not involved.
Given what I have seen at Braun Bay over the last few years, it seems it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
The State of NH needs to address the rafting and partying over there before someone else ends up dead.

there is no rafting at Braun Bay, its a no raft zone. What do you do about the partying? If laws are not broken you can not stop boaters from anchoring there. They thought turning it into a no rafting zone would stop the madness but no, its just as bad if not worse.

[Taz]

what I don't understand is why the last boat to leave Braun Bay on Saturday did not see this person alone or floating? Wouldn't he have to be there when the last boat left the bay?

[Sue Doe-Nym]

The person could have been submerged, not at water’s surface. Besides, if you weren’t looking for something specific, it wouldn’t necessarily be that visible.....
Plus partying people on boat weren’t paying attention....just a guess on my part. People tend to be far too casual around the water...that’s a huge generalization, but true, sad to say, and can lead to senseless tragedy.

[Taz]

The person could have been submerged, not at water’s surface. Besides, if you weren’t looking for something specific, it wouldn’t necessarily be that visible.....
Plus partying people on boat weren’t paying attention....just a guess on my part. People tend to be far too casual around the water...that’s a huge generalization, but true, sad to say, and can lead to senseless tragedy.

I guess your right because it happened but I still can not believe with all the people in the Bay someone did not see this body. Unless it was out deep enough beyond the shallows, the water is clear and shallow. Plus a body the size of a 32 year old male in shallow clear water I would think would be very visible. I was there 2 weeks ago and clearly saw small turtles swimming under water.

[Phantom]

I agree with those who say -- "Let's wait for the facts" and STOP armchair speculations of what could have been or not.

However - the one thing that stood out as EXTREMELY odd was the comment made in the Laconia Daily ….. "The following morning, the friends located Whitehill's untouched personal effects. When they returned to Braun Bay"

Where in God's name does someone store their personal stuff at Braun Bay ?? Granted it has been many many years since we last visited that sandbar for our personal reason ……. I never recall any sandy beach area, or anyone one the actual shoreline (perhaps it's changed).

[Hillcountry]

I agree with those who say -- "Let's wait for the facts" and STOP armchair speculations of what could have been or not.

However - the one thing that stood out as EXTREMELY odd was the comment made in the Laconia Daily ….. "The following morning, the friends located Whitehill's untouched personal effects. When they returned to Braun Bay"

Where in God's name does someone store their personal stuff at Braun Bay ?? Granted it has been many many years since we last visited that sandbar for our personal reason ……. I never recall any sandy beach area, or anyone one the actual shoreline (perhaps it's changed).

Lots of rocks with nooks and crannies for someone to “hide” their personal effects...

[ApS]

While we're busy not speculating:

I agree with those who say -- "Let's wait for the facts" and STOP armchair speculations of what could have been or not. However - the one thing that stood out as EXTREMELY odd was the comment made in the Laconia Daily ….. "The following morning, the friends located Whitehill's untouched personal effects. When they returned to Braun Bay". Where in God's name does someone store their personal stuff at Braun Bay ?? Granted it has been many many years since we last visited that sandbar for our personal reason ……. I never recall any sandy beach area, or anyone one the actual shoreline (perhaps it's changed).
I suspect the "personal stuff" was located the next morning—on their boat. (At which time they returned to Braun Bay).

If this had been a Florida story, the victim would be found with a fatal injury from an ill-advised dive from the boat into shallow water.

[Phantom]

Just out of curiosity ………. has any further details been released that I may have missed ?

[garysanfran]

Just out of curiosity ………. has any further details been released that I may have missed ?

Just being a wise ass...Sorry.

[Shera]

I realize this thread is from almost 3 years ago but I am the stepmother-in-law and there are so many guesses in this thread that are way off base and it just doesn't seem like that long ago to us.
Ben was at a bachelor party and there were several cars they used to transport people from the rented house to the lake so it was not strange that his friends just thought he was in a different car. This is why no one noticed him missing other than his wife who was in a full-blown panic because he was not answering phone calls or texts.
Ben's autopsy showed NO drugs or alcohol in his system. It did show that he had an enlarged heart and distorted aorta which caused him to faint. Had he not been in 3 feet of water,o r had someone seen him go under, he probably could have been treated for his conditions. He was an active, fit man who'd shown no signs of issues before. No one happened to be looking when he fainted. He had a 2 year old daughter (now 5) who is aware she had an amazing Dad.
He was not drunk & he was not on drugs, and his friends were not awful for mistakenly leaving him behind.

[Roy_Hobbs]

I realize this thread is from almost 3 years ago but I am the stepmother-in-law and there are so many guesses in this thread that are way off base and it just doesn't seem like that long ago to us.

Ben was at a bachelor party and there were several cars they used to transport people from the rented house to the lake so it was not strange that his friends just thought he was in a different car. This is why no one noticed him missing other than his wife who was in a full-blown panic because he was not answering phone calls or texts.

Ben's autopsy showed NO drugs or alcohol in his system. It did show that he had an enlarged heart and distorted aorta which caused him to faint. Had he not been in 3 feet of water or, had someone seen him go under, he probably could have been treated for his conditions. He was an active, fit man who'd shown no signs of issues before. No one happened to be looking when he fainted. He had a 2 year old daughter (now 5) who is aware she had an amazing Dad.

He was not drunk & he was not on drugs, and his friends were not awful for mistakenly leaving him behind.

Thank you for providing this information. In my opinion a good example of why we should try to refrain from making assumptions even when no harm is intended. I can’t imagine the pain that his family and friends must have felt / still feel, and am happy to hear that his daughter is learning about her dad.