WINDHAM – Maine game wardens recovered the body of a 19-year-old Windham man who was missing and presumed drowned since Friday afternoon on Highland Lake.

Patrick Mackerron’s body was found about 8:25 p.m. by Warden Rick Stone on the west side of the lake.

More than 20 officials from the Maine Warden Service, its dive team, Maine State Police and the Maine Marine Patrol searched for Mackerron since he was reported missing about 3 p.m. on Friday.

Sunday’s search began at 5 a.m., and continued throughout the day even though heavy rains fell on the area. By Sunday afternoon, the search focused on a hole in the lake that was found through specialized mapping software owned by the Maine Warden Service and a side-scan sonar owned by Maine State Police.

“The combination of this equipment was able to locate Mackerron,” said Warden Lt. Patrick Dorian.

Mackerron was riding on a 20-foot Checkmate boat with three friends, Richard West, 38, of Windham, Nathan Jackson, 20, of Casco, and Richard Tarvers, 28, of Westbrook, when he and Jackson jumped off the moving boat.

“Mr. Jackson came up but Mr, Mackerron did not,” Lt. Dorian said.

The Maine Medical Examiner’s Office will determine Mackerron’s cause of death.

The incident remains under investigation.


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