Body of missing boater recovered in Ohio River

CHILO, Ohio - A fishing trip on the Ohio River turned into tragedy Thursday at Chilo Lock #34 Park in Clermont County.

Divers pulled the body of Greg Bechdolt, 63, of Hillsboro from the water more than seven hours after his boat was found floating at Mehldahl Dam, three miles downstream.

Lt. Rob Reinhart of the U.S. Coast Guard said Bechdolt's family said he was going fishing Wednesday night about dark, something he often did by himself.

"We could be looking as early as or late as 10:00 last night," Lt. Reinhart said.

The empty boat was first spotted by a barge crew Thursday morning shortly after 3 a.m.

The Coast Guard was notified around 7:00 p.m. after the boat wound up at the lock entrance to the dam.

When one of the lockmasters got off work an hour later, he drove to the park looking for Bechdolt's truck.

"He found the vehicle backed down the boat ramp, trailer in the water and the truck still running," Lt. Reinhart said.

Divers and rescue crews from Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky scoured the river and the bank for any sign of Bechdolt.

However, the body was found about 20 to 30 feet off the end of the boat ramp.

The Clermont County Coroner's Office will determine the cause of death and whether any sort of medical condition was a contricuting factor in the death.

Troy Thompson, Southern Region Investigator for Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Watercraft, said Bechdolt was not wearing a life jacket.

Thompson urged all boater to wear one of the devices at all times.

"Eighty percent of the people that die in a boating accident do not have a life jacket on," he said. "That can encompass launching to wild boating to retrieving your boat."

He also suggested boaters take a companion along on every trip in case something goes wrong and let friends and relatives know your detailed boating plans.