A quiet Saturday on Lake Chatuge turned grim on May 9 when a 59-year-old woman from Murphy, North Carolina, was found dead in the water near the Marina Station dock in Hiawassee. Towns County first responders pulled her body from the lake after a passing boater spotted someone floating near the dock, and state investigators are now working to figure out how she ended up there.
Discovery at Marina Station
According to WSB‑TV, Towns County 911 received a call around 10:50 a.m. on Saturday from a boater who reported seeing a woman floating near the end of a dock at Marina Station. Deputies and EMS rushed to the scene and later identified her as Shelley Lynn Dietrich, 59, of Murphy, North Carolina. First responders secured the area while investigators began their initial work at the lakeside dock.
State Agencies Join the Probe
The Towns County Sheriff’s Office brought in additional help as questions mounted about what happened on the water, requesting assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Now Georgia reports. Authorities asked boaters and the public to steer clear of the immediate area while investigators processed the scene, and officials have said no further details will be released for now while the GBI leads the case. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Autopsy, Tips and Next Steps
The body will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy as agents work to determine the cause and manner of death, according to WSB‑TV. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI's Cleveland field office at (706) 348-4866 or submit a tip through the agency's online form via the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officials say more information will be released after the medical exam and lab work are complete.
What Locals Should Know
Lake Chatuge, which straddles the Georgia–North Carolina state line, is a busy recreational hub, and the Marina Station area in Hiawassee is a popular launch point for boaters and summer crowds, according to the Lake Chatuge Chamber of Commerce. Investigators say they will provide updates as the GBI’s work moves forward and are asking anyone who was in the Hiawassee area on May 9, especially those who may have photos or video from around the marina, to come forward. The Towns County Sheriff’s Office is managing the local scene while the state agency continues its broader examination.
