Detroit man found dead in northern Oakland County lake after 13 hour search

ROSE TOWNSHIP, MICH. (WWJ) A Detroit man was found dead in a northern Oakland County lake after a 13 hour search.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said the man jumped off the side of a pontoon boat into Taylor Lake near Fenton and did not resurface. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team received the call on Saturday (7/20) around 11:07 a.m.

The man has been identified as Marsalis Quintin Carter, 20, who had dual residences in Detroit and Tuskegee, Alabama.

“I encourage people to have a personal floatation device on if they are not strong swimmers when the get in the lake, as we have had numerous drownings this summer in similar situations,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in the press release. “Even if you are a strong swimmer, and have been drinking alcohol, it’s a good idea as well.”

According to the sheriff’s office, Carter was part of a moving crew. The crew asked to go on the boat with the owner to "relax and cool off" while on break. The boat owner took them for a swim. Carter and a second man jumped off the boat. The other man resurfaced. Carter did not.

At least 25 divers from numerous agencies assisted with the search that lasted over 13 hours. They found Carter about 300 feet from the shore, in 35 feet of water around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

The sheriff’s office said strike teams from the Southeast Michigan Dive Group assisted them and the North Oakland County Fire Authority, as well as divers from Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, and Wayne counties. The Sheriff’s Office aviation and drone units also responded; and divers had to to use various sonar equipment and searching techniques because of “poor visibility on the lake.”

An autopsy was performed at the Oakland County Medical Examiner's Office Sunday morning. Drowning was listed as the cause of death.

Taylor Lake is located in Rose Township, about seven miles southwest of Fenton, at Hickory Ridge and Bone Lake roads.