Missing boater found dead in Fort Meade's Lake Hendry

FORT MEADE, Fla. - A man who went missing after a boat began to sink on Lake Hendry in Fort Meade was found dead late Tuesday night.

49-year-old Jerry Carter's body was found entangled in weeds, authorities said.

He was last seen by his friends, Robin Johnson, 46 and Willie Evertt, 37, trying to swim toward the shore.

Deputies said the group of men were fishing on a 10' John boat when the vessel started taking on water.

Authorities responded to the incident at 7:36 p.m.

Johnson and Evert were rescued, but Carter couldn't be found.

A Polk County Sheriff's Office dive team went to search for him and eventually found his body in weeds.

The men both admitted to drinking alcohol throughout the day and no safety equipment was on the vessel.

The investigation is ongoing.