Kelsey Starling's Body Recovered At Smith Lake

WINSTON COUNTY, AL — Three months after a boating accident claimed the life of Birmingham elementary school teacher Kelsey Starling, rescue workers have recovered her body from Smith Lake.

The Houston County Rescue Unit divers, on its fourth search mission to Smith Lake in this effort, began the recovery process at 7:11 p.m. Saturday. Family members were able to positively identify the body.

An Alabama Media Group report said Starling's body was found in 140 feet of water at the approximate location that the accident occurred in Rock Creek.

Starling's sister Megan posted a message on Facebook Saturday thanking volunteers and rescue workers for their efforts, saying, "The selfless, humble group of volunteer divers from Houston County Rescue Unit arrived back on the scene Thursday night and immediately began working. This was their 4th trip to Smith Lake, and they were determined to complete the task they did today.

"Kelsey Blue, the ROV that many of you helped to purchase, located Kelsey." Megan Starling was referring to a remotely operated vehicle purchased through a GoFundMe campaign after the July 4 boating accident.

Houston County Rescue Squad, Crane Hill Fire Department, Logan Fire Department, Trimble Fire Dept., Smith Lake Task Force, Winston County Sheriff’s Office, Winston County Coroner’s Office, Winston County EMA, Cullman County Coroner’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division were involved in recovery efforts.

Starling was a passenger in a 2012 Mastercraft wakeboard boat driven by 23-year-old William Jackson Fite of Decatur. Fite was booked into the Winston County Jail July 5 on a charge of boating under the influence.

Nick Bowling Suggs, 50, and Jodi Wallace Suggs, 50 were both arrested in August after they were indicted by a Winston County grand jury on charges of negligent homicide . They were both on the pontoon boat that collided with the boat carrying Starling.

Patch is a GoFundMe promotional partner.