Bodies of two missing boaters recovered from Mississippi River, LDWF says

Incident the latest in a string of fatal boating accidents.

Two men who went fishing on the Mississippi River Saturday (July 23) drowned after apparently falling from their small boat, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said today (July 25). Neither of the men were apparently wearing life jackets, according to the LDWF.

The body of 58-year-old Larry Peters of Slaughter was recovered yesterday (July 24) near Donaldsonville by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, while the body of 27-year-old Joshua Peters of Livingston was recovered today just south of Baton Rouge, the LDWF reported.

Larry and Joshua Peters reportedly launched a 14-foot flat bottom boat from under the Interstate 10 bridge in Baton Rouge on Saturday to go fishing, the agency said. According to the family of the deceased boaters, neither of the Peters was heard from Saturday evening or Sunday morning, according to the LDWF release.

The U.S. Coast Guard, and East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Offices were also involved with the search. The search area covered the river from Baton Rouge to the Sunshine Bridge.

Joshua's body was turned over to the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office.  Larry's body was turned over to the Ascension Parish Coroner's Office.  An autopsy will be performed on both bodies to determine a cause of death.

LDWF, which continues the search for the missing boat, will be the lead investigative agency for this boating incident.