From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
SMITH LAKE — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division suspended the search for a woman missing on Smith Lake, indefinitely.
Crews have been searching for Kelsey Nicole Starling, 26, since a boat crash on July 4.
Sonar image from Daphne SAR.
ALEA and several other agencies used underwater cameras, dive teams and search dogs to try to find the missing woman, to no avail. Sgt. Chad Pate with ALEA said it is disappointing to not be able to bring closure to the Starling family.
“Obviously, this did not have the outcome that we had hoped for,” Pate said in a statement. “Many organizations and agencies have worked hard over the last 15 days. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Starling family.”
ALEA Marine Patrol (left) and Christian Aid Boat (right). Photo: ALEA
ALEA Aviation will continue aerial searches, periodically, and sonar searches are scheduled for next week. ALEA Marine Patrol troopers will search the area regularly while on boat patrol, but they will no longer assign personnel to the search every day.
The boat crash occurred in the Rock Creek area of Smith Lake. Five people were injured in the collision between two boats.
The operator of the boat that Starling was on was arrested and charged with boating under the influence.
