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Chuck Morris and his son have been discovered dead after going missing for three weeks. The bodies of Lotus Band’s Chuck Morris and his son, Charley, were recovered following an extensive search and rescue effort. The search later turned into a recovery measure after the duo had been missing for days. Get the full details below.
Chuck Morris And Son Dead
Lotus Band’s Chuck Morris, who happens to be a drummer for the electronic jam band, is dead. Authorities recovered the bodies of Chuck Morris and his son Charley 24 days after the pair disappeared. On Sunday, Chuck and Charley visited Arkansas for a Kayaking trip. However, they were reported missing on March 16, prompting the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to start searching for them. The team launched a combined effort to find the father-son duo.
Authorities said they recovered the bodies with help from technology and the Caroll County Mennonite Disaster Service’s efforts. Tennessee’s Rescue Team and Christian Aid Ministries Search also joined the rescue operation. They used remote-operated underwater vehicles in a “challenging environment” that passed depths of 180 feet.
Following the recovery of the bodies, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office issued a note of gratitude to the collaborating teams.
“Sheriff Holloway, along with the family of Chuck and Charley, would like to thank all the men and women who donated their time and efforts to help bring closure to the family and recover the two missing men,” it said.
The Sheriff’s office also offered its condolences to the family of Chuck Morris and his son. “Our heart goes out to the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure.”
Weather Conditions Hampered Search Efforts
Chuck and his son got missing after going on a Kayaking trip. The pair went to a reservoir in the northwestern corner of Beaver Lake in the middle of last month. This prompted an extensive recovery effort to be launched. The Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Lt. Shannon Jenkins, revealed that the rescue effort comprised efforts from dive crews, dogs, and boats. Also, several agencies joined the efforts to find the missing duo.
“This lake is a serious challenge to search but we’re doing everything we can,” Tony Wade, director of operations for Cajun Coast Search and Rescue, told CBS Colorado at the time.
According to CBS, water temperatures in the lake dropped to the 30s and 40s in the days following their disappearance. Meanwhile, the time it takes for people to survive in water with temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees is about 90 minutes. This is according to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“You’d instantly go into shock,” Tony said. “This is 100 percent a recovery.”
Days after Chuck and his son went missing, his Lotus bandmates feared for the worst. Although the band hoped for a miracle, they knew there wasn’t much hope that their bandmate would be found alive. The band also pointed out that “with help from K9 teams,” authorities might be able to pinpoint possible locations where the duo might be.
However, “logistical challenges including temp, weather, and depth have prevented a recovery thus far,” the band wrote on Twitter on March 21.
The death of Chuck Morris and his son is a massive loss to all those who loved them. It might take a while, but hopefully, everyone will recover by remembering the happy memories.