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Updated: 8:38 PM Jul 2, 2009
Police say Teen who Drowned was a Runaway
Officials in Jackson County, W.Va., say the teen who died Wednesday at O'Brien Lake was a runaway.
Posted: 3:05 PM Jul 1, 2009Reporter: Mike Waterhouse Email Address: mike.waterhouse@wsaz.com |
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50 Comments 
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UPDATE 9:35 p.m.
STATTS MILLS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The teenager who drowned Wednesday afternoon while swimming in O’brien Lake was a runaway from Georgia.
According to police, 16-year-old Brandon Banda ran away from home back in May and was entered in the NCIC database. The National Crime Information Center tracks people who are reported missing.
Police in Georgia notified his parents shortly after his death Wednesday.
Fire officials say O’Brien Lake was calm Wednesday and Banda was swimming with two friends.
Banda’s friends say they looked back and the teenager was struggling, then he just went under and did not re-surface.
The sheriff says there is nothing suspicious surrounding his death and they do not know if he was a good swimmer.
Banda’s friends had to swim to shore and then run to a nearby house to get help, but by the time help arrived it was too late.
Banda was with two girls who were in Jackson County visiting family.
The sheriff says he does not think the girl's family knew that Banda was a runaway.
ORIGINAL STORY
STATTS MILLS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Emergency officials in Jackson County, W.Va., say the body of a teenager who apparently drowned in a Statts Mills lake has been recovered.
Walter Smittle, the Jackson County Emergency Services Director, tells WSAZ.com the 17-year-old was swimming with some other people at O'brien Lake and just went under at about noon Wednesday.
Diving teams and three boats were called to the scene to assist with the search for the teen. They located his body at about 4:30 p.m.
The boy's name has not been released.
WSAZ has a crew at the scene. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.
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Latest Comments
Hey Banda, tomorrow will mark your one year absence from the face of this earth. Your family, friends, and I miss you dearly. We will never forget this day. We love you!
imma put some gorilla zoe on jus for u.oh yeah ima smoke 1 fo ya .r.i.p brandon banda.. hopefully we will meet again
Brandon i miss you.. You were a great cousin.. You looked peaceful at the funeral, you are in a better place. I love and miss you..
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