MCSO: Electrical issue possible factor in double drowning at Lake Pleasant
Jul 13, 2020, 6:00 PM | Updated: 7:19 pm
PHOENIX — The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday said an electrical current may have been a factor that led to a double drowning at Lake Pleasant over the weekend.
Brothers Timothy Miller, 53, and Michael Miller, 50, drowned Sunday at the Scorpion Bay Marina Dock, MCSO Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez said during a press conference on Monday.
Based upon eyewitness accounts — including one of the brothers’ unnamed wives — Enriquez said the MCSO is investigating the role an electrical issue may have played in the deaths of Timothy and Michael.
“At this time, we don’t have any information to lead us to 100% say that that’s [electrocution] the cause, but we have found evidence there may be an electrical issue that contributed as a factor to the drownings,” Enriquez said.
According to witness’ statements, Enriquez said Timothy and Michael were on a docked boat with their wives on Saturday and Sunday.
For an unknown reason on Sunday night, Timothy entered the water near the boat and began experiencing what witnesses described as electrical shock.
Michael then entered the water to help his brother and began experiencing the same symptoms.
One of the wives also followed Michael into the water and was likewise affected by what she later described as an electrical current.
“She was actually able to get pulled out and that’s where a lot of our information is coming from,” Enriquez said.
She sustained non life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.
Bystanders were also able to pull Michael from the water, according to Enqriquez.
When MCSO deputies arrived on-scene after responding to a call of unknown trouble around 6:30 p.m., they found bystanders performing CPR on Michael, who was unresponsive on the back of the boat.
Fire personnel then arrived on scene and transported Michael to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
The MCSO dive team did not locate Timothy’s body until around 1 a.m., where it was found under a nearby deck area, Enriquez said.
MCSO is currently investigating nearby boats and the dock area for additional information.
“This is a complex case,” Enriquez said.
“Not only are we dealing with the issue of the drowning, but we’re dealing with possible electrical currents as being described by witnesses on-scene who were in the water.”
MCSO is also awaiting additional information from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
