Death at Lake Jocassee believed to be suicide drowning

The body of a 60-year old Anderson woman was pulled last evening from a small overturned car in Lake Jocassee near the Devil’s Fork State Park.  According to Coroner Karl Addis, history provided by her family suggests the death was suicide by drowning.  A diver found the woman in the back seat of the 2004 Kia Optima in water 12 to 20 feet deep about 100 feet from the boat ramp.  A few hours before a passerby found a pocketbook with identification and turned it over to park rangers.  While searching the lake by boat, a park ranger found the car underwater. Addis said, “It is presumed she drove her car, or allowed it to roll down the boat ramp into the lake.” The death remains under investigation by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department and the Oconee County Coroner’s Office.  The SC Highway Patrol also assisted.