19-year-old drowns while swimming in St. Francis River in Wayne County
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
WAYNE COUNTY, Mo., (KBSI)— A 19-year-old man died Friday after authorities say he began struggling while swimming in the St. Francis River in Wayne County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the drowning happened around 4:50 p.m. Aug. 8 near the Sam A. Baker Campground, about 4 miles north of Patterson.
The patrol reported the Desloge man was swimming when he began to struggle and panic. He went underwater and did not resurface.
The Wayne County coroner pronounced him dead at the scene at 7:26 p.m. His body was taken to the Wayne County morgue.
The incident was listed as Troop E’s fourth drowning of 2026.
The patrol reported the man’s next of kin had been notified.
