Divers pull body from Lake Elmdale near Elm Springs

SPRINGDALE -- Divers pulled the body of Jesse Spigner from Lake Elmdale at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Keith Stephens, interim communications chief for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Crews began to look for Spigner, 35, around 7:10 p.m. Sunday when he jumped from a pontoon boat into the lake to save his dog, officials said. He wasn't wearing a life jacket, Stephens said.

Three other people were on the boat with Spigner, Stephens said. Several witnesses also saw the incident, he said.

The dog resurfaced in the lake, but no one saw Spigner, family members said Sunday.

On Tuesday, divers found Spigner's body submerged east of the docks in 24 feet of water about 100 yards into the lake, Stephens said.

Elm Springs police and the commission are finishing the investigation into the drowning, Jason Hiatt, police chief, said Tuesday afternoon. No foul play is expected, he said.

"It was just an unfortunate accident," Hiatt said.

NW News on 08/19/2015

Upcoming Events