ALEA confirms Starling recovered at Smith Lake

Published 8:59 am Sunday, October 6, 2019

After months of searching for missing Troy woman Kelsey Starling, search teams have finally recovered her body.

Starling went missing on July 4 after the 2012 Mastercraft boat she was on collided with another vessel. Four other people were injured in the collision.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol Division searched daily for Starling for more than two weeks, and private searches continued over the last three months as the family sought closure.

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Late Saturday afternoon, a body was found in the area of the collision, and divers were able to recover the body overnight and confirm that it was Starling.

“Search efforts had resumed on Thursday, Oct. 3. Divers from Houston County Rescue Squad located what they believed to be Ms. Starling Saturday in approximately 140 feet of water,” said Chad Pate of the ALEA Marine Patrol Division. “She was located in the approximate location that the accident occurred in Rock Creek.”

Houston County Rescue Squad, Crane Hill Fire Department,  Logan Fire Department, Trimble Fire Dept., Smith Lake Task Force, Winston County Sheriff’s Office, Winston County Coroner’s Office, Winston County EMA, Cullman County Coroner’s Office and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol Division were involved in recovery efforts.