Georgetown police say sonar led search teams to 18-year-old Kenley Bommarito after four days of land and water operations.
GEORGETOWN, Texas — Police recovered the body of 18-year-old Kenley Bommarito from Lake Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 2, following a search that began after he was reported missing over the weekend from a remote campsite at Sawyer Park, authorities said.
Officials said the recovery ends a round-the-clock effort that drew boats equipped with sonar, dive teams, helicopters, trained canines, and volunteers to the lake about 30 miles north of Austin. Bommarito, of San Angelo, was last seen around 10 p.m. Friday at a campsite accessible only by hiking or by boat. Investigators say the cause and manner of death remain under review. The case now shifts from search-and-rescue to a death investigation led by Georgetown police, with assistance from regional partners. The department expressed condolences to Bommarito’s family and thanks to agencies and residents who aided the operation.
Police said they began searching Saturday morning after a friend reported that Bommarito did not return to the site. Crews fanned out along shoreline trails while boats swept coves and inlets. Thermal imaging from a helicopter scanned the water overnight, and sonar teams mapped the lakebed in overlapping lanes. By early Tuesday afternoon, a sonar hit guided divers to a location where they recovered Bommarito’s body. “We extend our deepest condolences to Kenley’s family and friends as they endure this unimaginable loss,” the department said in a statement. Officers maintained a perimeter at Sawyer Park while investigators interviewed witnesses and secured items left at the campsite.
Authorities said initial information indicated Bommarito remained near the campsite. Family members told reporters he left behind his phone and car, which reinforced the focus on land and water within the park’s bounds. Sawyer Park sits on the north side of Lake Georgetown, with primitive sites reached by footpaths or by boat. Search leaders described the terrain as rugged, with cedar breaks, steep shorelines, and uneven rock shelves that complicate footing after dark. Officials did not say whether foul play is suspected, citing an open investigation. No other injuries were reported during the search.
Records show the alert went out Saturday with descriptions of Bommarito’s clothing and last known location. Over the following days, police coordinated mutual aid from neighboring departments, game wardens, and county resources. Canine teams tracked scent along spurs leading to and from the campsite, while shore crews marked fresh scuffs and slide marks on limestone near the water’s edge. Sonar crews concentrated on drop-offs adjacent to the point where campers commonly moor small boats. By Tuesday, mapping grids narrowed probable zones to a section west of Sawyer Park, where the recovery occurred. Officials said the identification was confirmed after the body was brought to shore.
Investigators said the medical examiner will determine cause and manner of death. Detectives are reviewing phone data, park camera footage where available, and statements from campers who were in the area Friday night. Police said there were no outstanding public-safety threats tied to the case. Should additional evidence emerge, the department could seek supplemental search warrants and laboratory testing. Officials plan to compile a case file for review with the district attorney’s office once autopsy findings arrive.
In interviews, relatives and friends described Bommarito as an avid camper who knew the trails around lakes in Central Texas. A family representative thanked volunteers who combed shorelines and delivered food to search teams. “We are grateful to everyone who showed up for our son,” the statement said. Campers who returned to Sawyer Park Tuesday evening said the lake was quiet as patrol boats idled near the recovery zone. One hiker said he saw tape closing a spur trail and a ranger redirecting traffic while investigators photographed the scene.
As of Wednesday afternoon, police said the case remains open pending autopsy results and additional interviews. Officials will release any new findings when the medical examiner completes the report. The department said it expects to provide its next formal update after laboratory testing and evidence reviews are finished.
Author note: Last updated December 4, 2025.