Man Found Dead In Allatoona Lake Identified

CANTON, GA -- The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division has identified the man whose body was recovered Thursday afternoon from Allatoona Lake.

The body of James Mills, 51, of Taylorsville was found around 4 p.m. Feb. 2 following a two-boat collision near Little River Marina on Bells Ferry Road, said Mark McKinnon, public affairs officer with the agency.

The search for Canton resident Ronnie Bentley, 67, remains ongoing, he added.

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services crews were dispatched to a call of the accident at the lake just before 1 p.m. Cherokee fire spokesperson Tim Cavender said a fisherman was able to rescue a 68-year-old man from the waters, but two additional individuals were unaccounted for.

After locating Mill's body, Cherokee County's Dive Team continued their search for Bentley until 6 p.m. Thursday. The search resumed early Friday morning. If crews fail to locate Bentley by 6 p.m. Friday, they will once again suspend the search and resume their efforts Saturday morning.

McKinnon said DNR rangers are getting assistance from Cherokee County fire, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They've also deployed cadaver dogs and helicopters as part of the operation.

However, conditions are not favorable for those taking part in the search, as winds gusts have been measured as high as 25 miles per hour Friday afternoon and white caps have been spotted on the lake.

"The water is a little rough, but we are committed to trying to bring some closure to this family,” he added, noting the search has been narrowed down to the area surrounding the Marina.

McKinnon told Patch the events leading up to the boating accident remain unclear, and DNR's Critical Incident Reconstruction Team will have to go over both boats "with a fine-tooth comb" to gather any evidence that could pinpoint what happened. No charges have been filed, as that will be determined by the outcome of the investigation.

Of course, DNR is using this opportunity to remind lake lovers about the importance of practicing safe boating techniques while on the water. While Allatoona Lake can be a fun place to relax and enjoy the outdoors, McKinnon said its waters "can also be a dangerous place" if one is not careful.

Image via Tim Cavender/Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services