We examine the reason behind the untimely death of Indiana wildlife photographer Carson Hughes, who died after drowning in the Versailles lake with his cause of death not known yet
On Sunday, authorities discovered the motionless body of a passionate wildlife photographer from Indiana submerged in Versailles lake. Following Carson Hughes’ untimely demise, numerous online tributes poured in to commemorate his life. His school organized a vigil in remembrance of him.
Who is Carson Hughes as missing Indiana wildlife photographer is found dead, bio, age, cause of death and obituary
Indiana Thermal Recovery, a Facebook page dedicated to animal rescue services in the state, confirmed Hughes’ disappearance and last known location. On Sunday evening, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources recovered Hughes’ body from the deep waters of Versailles Lake using state-of-the-art technology.
Sad news to confirm. Carson’s body was found last night in Versailles Lake in Ripley County. Officials will conduct an autopsy to help determine Hughes’ exact manner and cause of death. https://t.co/A2DGDr0dyh
— Angela Ganote (@angelaganote) March 18, 2024
What happened to Carson Hughes?
On March 15, 2024, 18 year old Carson Hughes, a teenage wildlife photographer, disappeared in Versailles State Park, Ripley County, Indiana, according to the Ripley County Sheriff’s office. Various search teams, including the sheriff’s office, Indiana Conservation Officers, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, were dispatched. His lifeless body was found two days later using thermal and sonar technology in Versailles Lake, six feet deep, on March 17, 2024.
The Ripley County Coroner’s Office is yet to disclose the precise cause of death, awaiting an autopsy report. Indiana Conservation Officers, in collaboration with the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, are actively investigating Versailles State Park to determine the cause of death of the 18-year-old male.
Who is Carson Hughes?
Carson Hughes, a senior at Jac-CenDel High School, was a native of Oswood, Indiana, and had aspirations to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, next year. He was an active member of his school’s basketball team and had a strong passion for wildlife photography and the outdoors, as evidenced by his Instagram account @carsonhughes_photography, where he had 7,331 followers.
He made his last posts on both platforms the day before he disappeared. Carson Hughes’ parents filed a missing on Friday afternoon, and authorities found his Carson’s car with keys inside near a boat ramp in Versailles State Park. Later, his kayak and camera, still mounted on a tripod, were floating empty on the main lake. After hearing about the death of Carson, social media users posted messages of support and prayers for his loved ones.