“54-Year-Old Aiken Man Found Deceased; Authorities Rule Out Foul Play in Preliminary Findings”
JACKSON, SC — The Aiken County Coroner’s Office and the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Jackson boat ramp on the morning of Wednesday, April 15, 2026, following the discovery of a body in the Savannah River. The recovery took place during an active search for a 54-year-old Aiken man who had previously been reported missing.
The Recovery: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
The operation focused on the river access point located at 620 Landing Road in Jackson.
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The Discovery: At approximately 9:20 AM, divers with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Aquatic Investigations and Recovery team located the individual.
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The Location: The body was found submerged just off the dock of the boat ramp.
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The Pronouncement: Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables arrived at the scene shortly after the recovery. The individual was officially pronounced deceased at 10:16 AM.
Preliminary Investigation
While the investigation is in its early stages, the Coroner’s Office has provided several key updates regarding the nature of the discovery.
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No Foul Play: Investigators stated that, at this time, there is no foul play suspected in the man’s death. The scene did not immediately suggest a struggle or external criminal involvement.
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Autopsy Scheduled: To determine the exact cause and manner of death—specifically to distinguish between a medical event or an accidental drowning—an autopsy is scheduled to take place in Newberry, SC, later this week.
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Identification: The victim has been identified as a 54-year-old male from Aiken. However, his name is being withheld by authorities pending the notification of his next of kin.
Multi-Agency Search Effort
The recovery was the result of a coordinated effort between several regional agencies that had been tracking the missing person’s last known movements near the river.
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Aiken County Sheriff’s Office: Managed the missing person case and secured the boat ramp area during the recovery.
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SCDNR: Provided specialized dive teams and sonar equipment to navigate the river’s currents near the dock.
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Aiken County Coroner’s Office: Leading the forensic portion of the death investigation.
Community Impact
The Jackson boat ramp is a popular local spot for boaters and fishers in the Aiken County area. The ramp was briefly closed to the public on Wednesday morning to allow divers and investigators to work unimpeded but has since been reopened.
“Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. We are committed to a thorough investigation to provide them with the answers they deserve.” — Aiken County Coroner’s Office Statement
Call for Information
While no foul play is suspected, anyone who may have seen the individual or observed unusual activity at the Jackson boat ramp over the last 48 hours is encouraged to contact the authorities.
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Contact: Aiken County Sheriff’s Office
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Phone: (803) 642-1761
Current Status: Active Death Investigation. Results from the Newberry autopsy are expected to be released early next week.
If you or someone you know has been affected by a tragedy, grief support and crisis resources are available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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