A weekend ride on private land outside Rockdale turned deadly Saturday evening when Milam County deputies recovered the body of 31-year-old Andrew Jenkins from a pond after he disappeared underwater while attempting to cross on horseback. The Milam County Sheriff's Office said an autopsy has been requested, and at this point investigators are not treating the case as suspicious.
How the recovery unfolded
Deputies were called to the 600 block of County Road 303 around 5:45 p.m. Saturday, according to KXAN. Investigators said Jenkins became separated from his horse while trying to cross the pond, went under the surface, and did not reappear. Dive teams searched the water and recovered his body at about 8 p.m.
Who responded and what's next
The Milam County Sheriff's Office said several agencies responded to help, including Texas Parks & Wildlife game wardens, the Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department, the Williamson County Sheriff's Office dive team, and the Milam County dive team, according to KXAN. Investigators have requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, and officials said that based on what they know so far, "no foul play is suspected."
Context: water safety in Texas
Texas Game Wardens regularly assist local agencies with water recoveries and continue to push basic safety steps, noting that most recreational water deaths involve people who were not wearing life jackets, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The agency urges Texans to wear life jackets and avoid risky crossings in unfamiliar waters, particularly in the summer months when small private ponds can be deceptively hazardous.
