Drowning on Kirk Lake in Cass County

PENN TOWNSHIP, Mich- The Cass County Sheriff's Office is investigating a drowning that occurred on Kirk Lake in Penn Township.

Kirk Lake is Northeast of the Village of Vandalia.

Deputies told ABC 57 News that around 2 p.m. they got a call from someone that a boat appeared to be unattended near the public access site on Kirk Lake.

It appears that the victim was launching his boat when it drifted away.

It's reported that the victim swam out to catch the boat and drown.

The victim has been identified as Eugene Carpenter, 69, of South Bend. Deputies Carpenter was pronounced dead on the scene.

An autopsy will be conducted to get the exact cause of death.

Kirk Lake is secluted and not highly trafficked. It's not known how long Carpenter had been in the water before the report was made to the police.