Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents are investigating a fatal boating incident that occurred in Orleans Parish on April 9.
The body of Camela Stopa, 28, was recovered from Lake Pontchartrain on April 10.
According to the operator of the vessel, he and Stopa were heading back to the landing in a 28-foot bay boat around 10 p.m. on April 9 when they encountered some bad weather and rough waters causing the vessel to capsize.
The operator had a personal flotation device (PFD) under his arm and Stopa was in the process of putting her PFD on when they entered the water. The operator made it to shore and was recovered by the Lake Shore Airport Fire Department on the morning of April 10.
LDWF will be the lead investigative agency for this fatal boating incident. The LDWF Enforcement Division, Lakeshore Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and New Orleans Police Department participated in the search.