Brothers found dead in Ohio River after boat located upside down

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the deaths of two boaters on the Ohio River in Ballard County.

A news release says conservation officers responded to a call shortly before 6:30 a.m. Saturday regarding a boat floating upside down on the Ohio River just north of the U.S. 51 bridge connecting Wickliffe, Kentucky to Cairo, Illinois. The 17-foot aluminum boat was severely damaged.

About three hours later, an angler reported finding a body near Ohio River mile marker 977. The victim was identified as 60-year old Raymond Sheffer of Sweetwater, Texas. A short time later, a towboat located a second body near the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, later identified as Wendell Sheffer, 63, of Metropolis, Illinois.

The brothers reportedly launched the boat Friday evening from Joppa, Illinois and had not been reported missing. Neither man was wearing a life jacket when found.

Autopsies were scheduled at the Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville.