David White of Washington City in southwest Utah was supposed to meet some friends for a day of fishing in September 1997. His pals had to cancel, and weren’t able to join him. So he went alone on sprawling six-mile long and one-mile wide Fish Lake, near the small town of Koosharem close to the Mytoge Mountains
Fish Lake is a cold water fishery for trout and Kokanee salmon. White was believed to be trolling for fish on the day he disappeared. His boat was found operating at trolling speed without him in it. Searchers located his hat and a shoe, but after five days of looking for him nothing else was found and searching was halted.
It was presumed he fell out of the boat, drowned and disappeared into the 175-deep, cold-water lake.
A Grisly Discovery
But last mid-May a hiker and his dog were walking the shores of Fish Lake. The canine found a shoe with the skeletal remains of a human foot. The hiker notified local authorities with the Utah Medical Examiner. They had DNA testing done on the foot, comparing it to one of White’s daughters’ DNA. The match was nearly perfect for the daughter and the recovered foot – thus closing a tragic and fatal chapter on David White’s ill-fated trout fishing trip 28 years ago.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, SAR’s, Detective Sgt Pearson, Detective Sgt Larsen, Sheriff Curtis, and Gary Moulton from Fishlake Lodge for their incredible support and tireless efforts,” Stefanie Bennett, White’s daughter, said in a statement. “We are also deeply grateful to the individual and his dog who found the shoe – without them, we would not be where we are today.”
Sheriff Nathan Curtis said the case of David White has troubled all those who were involved in the search for him decades ago. Curtis was thankful closure to his disappearance has finally been resolved with the recovery of his foot and DNA testing.
The tragic incident underscores boating and fishing safety for everyone on the water, especially those who fish alone. With today’s easy to use and comfortable to wear inflating life jackets, anglers have little reason not to have a PFD device on them at all times while on the water.
