Georgetown police say the 18-year-old was found underwater Tuesday after vanishing from a remote campsite Friday night.
GEORGETOWN, TX — Police recovered the body of 18-year-old Kenley Bommarito from Lake Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 2, ending a four-day search that began after he was reported missing from a primitive campsite at Sawyer Park late Friday, Nov. 28.
Authorities said sonar-equipped teams located Bommarito underwater Tuesday afternoon following coordinated land, water and air searches around the lake, about 30 miles north of Austin. He had last been seen around 10 p.m. Friday while camping with a friend. In a statement, Georgetown police expressed condolences to his family and said the cause and manner of death remain under investigation. The recovery concludes a major effort that drew local officers, county resources and volunteers to rugged shoreline and trail areas that are popular with hikers and backpackers.
Police said they were notified Saturday morning after Bommarito did not reappear at camp. Over the weekend and into Tuesday, crews used boats with underwater sonar, dive teams, drones and helicopters with thermal imaging to sweep coves and steep inlets along the Good Water Loop. Search dogs worked the shoreline and trails as officers and volunteers canvassed the area. At 3:43 p.m. Tuesday, the department announced that teams had found and recovered a body later identified as Bommarito. “We extend our deepest condolences to Kenley’s family and friends as they endure this unimaginable loss,” the department said in an update, also thanking agencies and volunteers who joined the effort.
Officials described Sawyer Park, a primitive site on the lake’s north shore, as accessible only by boat or by hiking several miles on uneven terrain. Police noted early evidence suggested Bommarito had remained in the area; his phone and vehicle were left at the campsite, and a friend who had camped with him reported him missing. Investigators emphasized they are working to determine what happened between his last known sighting Friday night and the discovery Tuesday. They have not announced any suspects and said all possibilities were considered while teams focused on locating him.
Lake Georgetown, impounding the North Fork of the San Gabriel River, is ringed by a 26.5-mile hiking trail and several primitive camps managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sawyer Park sits between mile markers on the Good Water Loop and lacks potable water or on-site staff, conditions that can complicate searches. The remote setting — cliffs, coves and heavy brush — required sonar and divers to methodically grid the water while ground teams checked spurs and overlooks. Residents said disappearances on the lake are uncommon, which added urgency as agencies coordinated across the weekend and into the workweek.
Police identified Bommarito as being from San Angelo and said family members traveled to Georgetown to assist and wait for updates during the search. “It’s the worst nightmare any mother could go through,” his mother, Deanna Morris, said in a television interview while the search was ongoing. After the recovery, community members placed flowers near trailheads and boat ramps, and a Georgetown resident said incidents like this “impact our city in a big way” because the lake is widely used by locals for hiking, fishing and camping.
Investigators said the medical examiner will determine the cause and manner of death after standard post-recovery procedures. Police did not release a timeline for the report. Detectives are reviewing witness statements, campsite evidence and electronic records tied to the search area. Officials said additional updates will be provided as appropriate. No public briefing had been scheduled as of Wednesday, Dec. 3. Authorities asked anyone with information about Friday night or early Saturday near Sawyer Park to contact Georgetown police.
Georgetown police said patrols around the lake continued Tuesday evening as crews cleared equipment from staging areas at boat ramps and parks. By nightfall, search boats had returned to shore and trail access reopened where it had been temporarily limited for operations. As of Wednesday morning, the case remained open with the next milestone expected when the medical examiner’s findings are complete.
Author note: Last updated December 3, 2025.