Caesar Creek drowning victim coached at Little Miami

Family and friends are mourning the death of Robert Stegemoller, a girls golf coach at Little Miami High School and food service worker at a local prison.

Stegemoller, 47, of Maineville, was pronounced dead Sunday night after apparently drowning at Caesar Creek Lake.

“We don’t have many fatals out there. I think this might be the first one of the season,” said Doyle Burke, chief deputy corner in Warren County.

Stegemoller’s daughter tried to save him herself after calling 911 but the water was about 45 degrees on Sunday, according to Burke.

Authorities are awaiting toxicology tests before ruling on cause of death, but “everything is consistent with it being a drowning,” Burke said Tuesday.

UPDATE @ 9:31 p.m.: Robert Stegemoller, who drowned Sunday at Caesar Creek Lake, was the girls varsity golf coach at Little Miami High School, our news partner, WCPO.com, reports.

Stegemoller, 47, was picnicking on an island at the lake with his 19-year-old daughter when his boat began to drift. He jumped in the water to retrieve it and didn’t surface, Massie Twp. Fire Chief Scott Hines told WCPO.com.

Stegemoller’s daughter tried to save her father but couldn’t find him. Hines said Stegemoller may have drowned because of the low water temperature. Crews dispatched water rescue equipment about 4:40 p.m. and recovered his body about 8:15 p.m.

According to the Little Miami Schools website, Stegemoller coached in the district for more than six years and his tenure included stints with softball, volleyball and golf.

“He said his team is a family and that they will stand behind, walk beside, lead and encourage each other every step of the way,” his school bio states. The district tweeted Monday about Stegemoller’s death.

UPDATE @ 4 a.m. (May 25): The Montgomery County Coroner's Office has identified the drowning victim as Robert Stegemoller, 47, of Maineville.

UPDATE @ 8:15 p.m. (May 24): The body has been recovered, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Further details about the victim and the investigation into what happened have not been released.

UPDATE @ 5:50 p.m. One person has drowned at Caesar Creek Lake and emergency crews are working to recover the body, according to firefighters at the scene.

FIRST REPORT (May 24)

Crews are responding to a reported drowning at the Caesar Creek State Park near Waynesville.

Water rescue equipment was dispatched at approximately 4:40 p.m.

Early reports indicated a man was in the water near the campground area.

We have a crew en route and will provide updates as more information becomes available.