Sheriff’s Department dive team members retrieve body of Austin Tooley from the Kokomo Reservoir on Aug. 7, 2024.
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On August 7, 2024, two kayakers notified an Indiana DNR officer of an unconscious/unresponsive person in the water near the Kokomo Reservoir Park. The Howard County Sheriff’s Department dive team was activated and located a deceased male.
The Howard County Coroner’s office assisted Indiana Conservation officers and deputies with the removal of the male. The Kokomo Police Department Criminal Investigation Section was also activated to assist with the investigation.
On Thursday, August 8, 2024, a positive identification was made, and the immediate family was notified. The male was identified as Austin Lee Tooley, age 37, of Kokomo. An autopsy was conducted yesterday afternoon by a forensic pathologist at the Howard County Coroner's Office. The cause and manner of death are pending final lab and toxicology results.
This case remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sergeant Erik Fogg at 765-456-7369 or the Kokomo Police Department Hotline at 765-456-7017. You may qualify for a cash reward by calling Central Indiana Crime Stoppers at 1-800-262-TIPS with your anonymous tip. You can always report tips anonymously by downloading the “Kokomo PD” mobile app from the IOS or Google Play stores. You can also text a tip to the Kokomo Police Department by texting TIPKPD, then a space, and then your tip, and send it to 847411.