PRESS RELEASE

On Monday, April 24, 2023, at approximately 9:54 p.m., the Tunica County Sheriff's Office received a phone call from a concerned party stating that his father and another individual had gone fishing on Beaver Dam Lake and had not returned home yet. The caller advised dispatch that he had located their vehicle at a boat ramp off Flower Lake Road in Tunica, MS and was unable to make contact with his father or the other individual. Tunica County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene and activated its drone system.

Upon arrival, TCSO contacted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to assist with the search for the two missing individuals. TCSO also contacted DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team to assist in the investigation. DCSO SRT deployed drones to attempt to locate the missing individuals. TCSO also contacted Memphis Police Department Air Support Division that assisted in the search of the area via helicopter.

Officers with MDWFP and TCSO entered the waters via boat to begin searching for the individuals around 12:48 a.m. At approximately 1:07 a.m., deputies located one black male, identified as Andrew Williams, 78, of Senatobia, MS and transported him to the bank to be assessed by Pafford. Williams was transported by Pafford to Baptist DeSoto for treatment and was released.

At approximately 2:21 a.m., deputies located one unresponsive black male subject in the water. The subject was transported to the bank and assessed by Pafford. The subject was pronounced deceased by Tunica County Coroner Glen Grant. This individual has been identified as Willie B. Taylor, 84, of Tunica, MS. The body of Mr. Taylor was transported to the Mississippi Crime Lab, pending an autopsy. No foul play is suspected.

Tunica County Sheriff's Office gives its condolences to the Taylor Family during this time. We would also like to extend our thanks to the agencies that assisted us with this Search and Rescue Operation - DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team, Memphis Police Department Air Support Division, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks for their quick response and assistance in this recovery. This incident remains under investigation.