Crews recover body of 27-year-old swimmer who disappeared in Lake Lanier

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Crews have recovered the body of a 27-year-old who drowned on Lake Lanier last week in Hall County.

Leonardo Martinez, a boat mechanic, disappeared while swimming near Van Pugh Park in Hall County on July 29.

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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that game wardens found his body Thursday around 9:30 a.m. His body was floating on the surface about 30 yards from the shore.

Channel 2′s Matt Johnson was at the lake earlier this week during the search. Martinez’s family had been hoping for a miracle. Johnson spoke to his cousin, Angelo Jaciofano, who was watching the search from the shoreline.

“Our heart is broken, you know,” Jaciofano said. “We think he’s swimming to a coast, but it’s huge. It’s massive land, you know.”

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Georgia DNR and local law enforcement investigated two other deaths at Lake Lanier over the weekend.

Last Thursday, Thomas “Shep” Milner jumped off a dock at his family’s home and was electrocuted in the water. On Saturday, Tracey Stewart, 61, was swimming near East Bank Park and never resurfaced. His body was recovered hours later in 46 feet of water.

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2 dead, 1 swimmer missing after weekend at Lake Lanier, authorities say

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