Body of missing boat operator recovered on Lake LBJ

The body of a missing boat operator was recovered Sunday afternoon on Lake LBJ after a two day search, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials said.

The man, identified as Jesse Marcus Estes, 44, of Sarita, was reported missing after being involved in a boat wreck on the lake Friday afternoon.

The search and recovery effort was complicated by several factors, including high boat traffic in the area of the lake where the incident occurred, as well as numerous underwater obstacles, such as man-made debris, large rocks and other natural features that limited sonar effectiveness and diver visibility, officials said.

Texas game wardens enlisted the help of one of its K9s specialized in tracking human remains this morning. The K9 alerted authorities to the same area where the wreck had occurred. Texas game wardens observed Estes while making a second pass to pinpoint the alert location, officials said.

During recovery efforts Texas game wardens committed over a dozen Texas game wardens, 3 side scan sonar boats, 1 dive team boat and the K9. Texas game wardens were also assisted by Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, LCRA Lake Rangers with side scan sonar boat, and Horseshoe Bay Police Department’s side scan sonar boat. Fire department personnel and divers from Cassie VFD, Lake Buchanan VFD, Kingsland VFD, Sunrise Beach VFD and Hoover Valley VFD also assisted with the search for Estes.

Estes was pronounced deceased by the Burnet County Justice of the Peace Pct. 1. An autopsy was not ordered.