Man Drowns in Lake Keowee

In Oconee County, SC an autopsy is planned today on the body of a man found dead over the weekend at a Lake Kowee boat ramp.

It happened about 2p Saturday afternoon at a boat ramp on Marina Drive in the Lake Keowee Key development.

According to Oconee County coroner Karl Addis, the 75-year old man, identified as Robert Bruce Graffis of Salem, SC was apparently trying to launch his fishing boat to store at a nearby boat slip.

Graffis was reported missing about 6:45p Saturday evening by his wife who found his car and boat trailer at the boat ramp about an earlier, but no sign of him.

After searching for several hours, authorities found Graffis’ boat about 200 yards away along the shoreline around 9:30p. 

Graffis’ body was found about an hour later in about 10 feet of water some 50-feet from the boat ramp.  An autopsy will be performed today to determine the exact cause of death.