A 70-year-old man charged with murdering two fellow duck hunters was found dead Saturday in Reelfoot Lake, Tenn., according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
“The body of David Vowell has been recovered in the waters of Reelfoot Lake,” the TBI tweeted Saturday. “He was located around 3 p.m., today, near the area of the incident. His identity has been confirmed and an autopsy will be performed.” (RELATED: Teen Describes Torturous Date That Tried Sawing His Hands Off, Nearly Took His Life After Meeting On Online App)
BREAKING UPDATE: The body of David Vowell has been recovered in the waters of Reelfoot Lake. He was located around 3 p.m., today, near the area of the incident. His identity has been confirmed and an autopsy will be performed. pic.twitter.com/OIGCOOXkJZ
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) January 31, 2021
Vowell was charged with two counts of first-degree murder Tuesday for the deaths of Zachery Grooms, 25, and Chance Black, 26, according to The Jackson Sun.
Grooms and Black were hunting ducks by the lake early on Jan. 25 with a third person, Jeffrey Crabtree, when Vowell approached Grooms and allegedly shot him. (RELATED: Manhunt Suspended For Weather Conditions After Two Men Shot Duck Hunting)
Vowell also allegedly shot Black before Crabtree snatched the firearm from Vowell and hit him in the face with the weapon’s butt-end, briefly knocking him senseless, according to the witness statement Crabtree provided investigators, the Sun reported.
BREAKING: TBI Special Agents are asking for help in locating a person of interest in a homicide investigation in Obion County. David Vowell, 70, of Martin is considered armed and dangerous.
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) January 26, 2021
If you have seen him or know where he may be located call 1-800-TBI-FIND.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/xB1w6ersSR
Crabtree took the two victims to a boat and tried to give them medical attention, according to his statement, while Vowell walked towards the bank and then drove away.
The search that led to the discovery of Vowell’s body was conducted in an extremely rural area, the Reelfoot Lake State Park, near Tennessee’s borders with Missouri and Kentucky, ABC 11 reported. Reelfoot Lake itself is 15,000 acres wide, encircled by thick swampland packed with cypress trees.
The body will undergo an autopsy, after which the cause of death will be released, District Attorney General Tommy Thomas said, WPSD Local 6 reported.