Apparent victim of drowning near Altamont identified

The victim of an apparent drowning on Sunday in a private pond just south of Interstate 70 near Altamont has been identified as Jacob McGuire, 30, of Montrose, according to Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes.

Just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, the Effingham County Dive Rescue Team was called to assist the Altamont Police Department for a deceased man located in the pond in the 100 block of Frontage Road, according to the team’s assistant commander, Jeremy Kyle.

Rhodes said a family fishing at the pond, including two young children, spotted the body and contacted police. The coroner noted that McGuire’s family had reported him missing to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office at about noon on Sunday.

Rhodes said a toxicology report and an autopsy are pending, but said the cause of death appears to be drowning.

“There were no immediate signs of other trauma,” Rhodes said.

The Effingham County Dive Team assisted the Altamont Police Department, Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and Effingham County Coroner’s Office with the initial investigation and recovery of the man, Kyle noted.

The investigation is being led by the Altamont Police Department. The Effingham County Dive Rescue Team spent approximately three hours on scene.