Update on bodies recovered from Walnut Lake

Tragedy at Walnut Lake: Siblings Drown While Kayaking

WALNUT, MS — A heartbreaking incident unfolded this week at Walnut Lake as two siblings drowned while kayaking, prompting a multi-agency recovery effort across Tippah and Benton counties.

According to Benton County Sheriff Robby Goolsby, the brother and sister were kayaking on the lake on Tuesday, August 5, when they went into the water and never resurfaced. A concerned local resident called 911, sparking a swift response from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Tippah County deputies, and agents with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP).

Emergency crews recovered the female victim late Tuesday night around 11:45 p.m., and the male victim was recovered the following day, Wednesday, August 6, in the early afternoon.

The Tippah County Coroner’s Office confirmed the recovery of both bodies, though the names of the deceased have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.

The incident remains under investigation by the Benton County Sheriff’s Department, as the majority of Walnut Lake lies within Benton County jurisdiction.