CROSSVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) officers located and recovered the body of missing angler, James Paul McTyre of Vonore, in the Ball Play Creek area, just before 11 a.m. EDT Oct. 13, 2025.

TWRA officers received the initial report of an overdue angler on Tellico Lake in Monroe County around 7:15 a.m. EDT on Oct. 12, 2025. Officers located McTyre’s truck and trailer at Ball Play boat ramp and found his empty vessel approximately a half mile from the boat ramp, just before 9 a.m. EDT on Oct. 12.

A search was initiated by TWRA offices and investigators, which lasted throughout the day and concluded around 7 p.m. EDT. The search resumed this morning at 7 a.m.  EDT. Side-scan sonar and a remote operated vehicle (ROV) were used in the search. McTyre was not a life jacket. This is the 22nd boating related fatality this year. The incident remains under investigation.

Numerous agencies assisted in search and recovery efforts including Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County STARS, Blount County, Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe EMA, Knox County Rescue Squad, T-Bart, Dallas Bay Fire, Rafter Fire Department, Mt. Vernon fire Department, Conasauga Valley Fire Department, McMinn County Rescue Squad, Gudger Fire Department , TEMA, and Englewood Fire Department.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is responsible for protecting, managing, and conserving fish and wildlife species for the benefit of Tennesseans and visitors. The Agency also maintains public safety through law enforcement and safety education on waterways.