JAMESTOWN, Ky. - A West Chester woman died in what her friends and family said was her favorite place.
An autopsy determined that Wendy Augustine, 52, accidentally drowned in Lake Cumberland over the weekend, the Russell County coroner announced Monday. Toxicology results are pending.
The married mother of two was last seen on a houseboat about 12:40 a.m. Saturday. Her body was recovered from the lake at State Dock about 36 hours later. Lake Cumberland is a popular vacation and recreation spot for Tri-Staters about 200 miles south of Cincinnati.
Paul Sagel, a dock neighbor of Augustine, said the whole boating community at State Dock was "devastated" by the news.
"She was a really funny person, and so full of life and so energetic and so wonderful," Sagel said. "She didn't have a mean bone in her body."
He and other boaters became close friends with Augustine and her family, Sagel said.
"It's like your extended family. We do stuff together all the time, all year long, every weekend. We work hard every week to get back on the lake every weekend. That was her favorite place," Sagel said.
Augustine's family went to police after they woke up Saturday and she was nowhere to be found. Her body was found Sunday afternoon after a extensive search by the Kentucky State Police, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Boone County Water Rescue and other county agencies.
Augustine's family released the following statement Sunday evening:
The Augustine family, husband John and children Katie and Andrew, are grateful for the combined efforts of the Russell, Pulaski and Boone county rescue services to locate and recover Wendy. She was an extraordinary wife, mother and person. It was an unforeseen accident that took Wendy at the place she loved - Lake Cumberland. We loved Wendy and the world will miss having a Wendy Harris Augustine in it.
The Russell County coroner and Fish & Wildlife are still investigating.
