UPDATE:

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. – The body of a Knoxville man who went missing on Douglas Lake Sunday afternoon has been recovered.

On June 10, 2025, just before noon EDT, search and recovery teams located the body of David Simanca Molina, 22, in the Muddy Creek area of Douglas Lake, near Point 7, at a depth of approximately 81 feet.

Mr. Molina’s body was first identified by the Carter County Rescue Squad using a specialized sonar system known as a “tow fish,” which is capable of scanning large underwater areas. Officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) confirmed the finding using an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Mr. Molina’s body was recovered at approximately 1 p.m. by the local dive organization Need-A-Diver.

According to witness accounts, Mr. Molina entered the water from a pontoon boat around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, and did not resurface. He was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD).

This marks the 11th boating fatality in Tennessee this year. TWRA urges boaters to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD when boating or swimming in Tennessee waters.

TWRA extends its sincere appreciation to all the agencies involved in the search and recovery efforts, including rescue squads from Jefferson County, Carter County, Hawkins County, Sevier County, Church Hill, Greeneville, Newport, and Morristown.

TWRA offers condolences and prayers for Mr. Molina’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.

ORIGINAL STORY:

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), along with local emergency responders, is searching for 21-year-old David Simanca Molina, who went missing on Douglas Lake after jumping off a pontoon boat in the Muddy Creek area near Point 7 on Sunday around 1:30 pm.

The water in the area is approximately 80 feet deep. Despite being a confident swimmer, Molina did not resurface. Search efforts include boats, sonar, side-scan sonar, and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), with assistance from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, rescue squads, and other first responders.

Molina’s mother, Luz Martin, last saw him Sunday morning, and he was with co-workers, some of whom he was meeting for the first time.

The search continues as conditions permit, but Molina has not yet been found.