Coroner identifies Gem Lakes drowning victim

Bill Bengtson, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·1 min read

Aug. 10—The Aiken County coroner has identified the body of a man who drowned in Gem Lakes in June.

James L. Brooker, 55, has been identified as the man who drowned June 25 in the Gem Lakes neighborhood's recreation area, at 108 Recreation Drive, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.

The coroner noted that Brooker "was homeless and is believed to have been originally from the Barnwell County area." The autopsy, he added, "showed the cause of death as drowning with the manner of death ruled as accidental."

A report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety from the afternoon of June 25 indicated that, "Upon arrival, officers spoke with witnesses in the area who stated that a male subject was seen falling off the end of the dock and did not resurface."

A dive team with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded and recovered the body.

Aiken Public Safety later put out an appeal for help in the investigation, focusing on a vehicle and two witnesses — apparently one man and one woman.

Anyone with information about these individuals is asked to call Investigator Jon Eagerton at 803-643-2175.