Authorities identify Rutherford Co. drowning victim


Divers recovered the body of a Rockvale man who had fallen from a boat near the Stewarts Creek...
Divers recovered the body of a Rockvale man who had fallen from a boat near the Stewarts Creek boat ramp near Smyrna.(Rutherford County Sheriff's Office)
Published: Jun. 19, 2022 at 2:50 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 4:06 PM CDT
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SMYRNA, Tenn. (WSMV) - Authorities have identified the man who apparently drowned after falling out of his boat near the Stewart Creek Boat Ramp near Smyrna on Sunday.

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said Billy Stanford Capps, 62, of Rockvale, died after falling out of the back of his john boat on Sunday afternoon.

Rutherford County Sheriff Sgt. Nick Coble said Capps’ wife, Lisa, said he fell out of the back of the boat and that she attempted to throw him a life jacket.

“She had attempted to throw him a life jacket but he was unable to get it,” Coble said in a news release.

Rutherford County Fire & Rescue and Metro Nashville’s Dive Team responded and searched the area with sonar.

“Firefighters and the dive team had two different hits with the sonar and a dive team was sent in to check it out,” Coble said in a news release. “The dive teams recovered the body.”

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