Suwannee County Sheriff Tony Cameron released the name of the Hamilton County man who went missing in the Suwannee River near the sandbar at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park on July 14.

Arthur Lavoy Padgett, 37, 6026 30th Terrace, Jennings, was last seen by his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who tried to pull him to safety, but was unable to help him, as he went under water. Members of his family told SCSO that he did not know how to swim.

Cameron said the family was at the river “enjoying the day”. Padgett’s body has not yet been recovered. Local authorities continue to search for his body, from where he was last seen all the way to the Gulf Coast.  

Cameron said there are two deep holes in that section of the river by the sandbar that “the current does funny things to”.

“The water is flowing in two different directions there, causing a swirling effect. A good swimmer can swim right through it, but a bad swimmer would have a difficult time getting through it,” Cameron said. 


A Valdosta State University cross country runner drowned in the same spot Wednesday night. 


The body of 18-year-old Tajay Hoppines was found around 3:30 p.m. Thursday near the area he was last seen. 
He went under the murky waters of the Suwannee River at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park sandbar shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday.


Cameron said Hoppines and fellow cross-country runners from the university were training in the park when it was decided a dip in the murky waters of the Suwannee River was needed. Hoppines and some of his fellow athletes decided to swim across the river but Hoppines never made it.