A preliminary cause of death report indicates that a West Chester Twp. woman apparently drowned over the weekend at Lake Cumberland, Ky.
Russell County Coroner Michael Reynolds said Wendy Augustine’s death “is consistent with accidental drowning.”
Reynolds said there was no trauma noted from Augustine’s body and he said she was not wearing a life jacket when her body was recovered.
Augustine, 52, was last seen around 12:40 Saturday morning on a houseboat on the lake. Her body was recovered around 5 p.m. Sunday near where the boat was docked, according to Kentucky State Police.
A toxicology report is pending with the Russell County Coroner’s Office, which is investigating the death with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Maj. Shane Carrier of the Fish and Wildlife Resources’ law enforcement office is conducting the investigation and declined to release any further information concerning the investigation.
Augustine’s family released a statement Sunday night.
“The Augustine family, husband John and children Katie and Andrew are grateful for the combined efforts of the Russell, Pulaski and Boone County rescue services to locate and recover Wendy. She was an extraordinary wife, mother and person. It was an unforeseen accident that took Wendy at the place she loved — Lake Cumberland. We loved Wendy and the world will miss having a Wendy Harris Augustine in it,” the statement read.
Paul Sagel said the whole boating community at State Dock, a marina and rental business at the lake, was “devastated” by the news.
“She was a really funny person, and so full of life and so energetic and so wonderful,” Sagel said. “She didn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
This article contains reporting from our news partner WCPO 9 On Your Side.