Authorities in Tuscarawas County are investigating a tragic incident involving an Amish family. A father and his 4-year-old son have died, while the mother remains hospitalized.
Officials say the family had traveled from Holmes County to visit Atwood Lake over the weekend. According to the Tuscarawas County Sheriff, at approximately 10:40 a.m. Saturday, the mother intentionally drove a golf cart off a dock at Atwood Lake with her three teenage children aboard, including a 15-year-old daughter and twin 18-year-old sons.
The teenagers were able to exit the water safely on their own. However, after speaking with the mother and children, responding units became concerned for the safety of the 4-year-old son and the husband, who were initially unaccounted for, the sheriff’s office said in a media release.
“After helping the woman out of the water, the woman made concerning statements about conversing with God,” the release stated.
The father had been seen by a witness at another dock around 1 a.m. Divers later recovered the 4-year-old’s body Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning, they located the 45-year-old father.
The mother is receiving treatment for mental health issues, and the three teenagers are staying with other family members.
The Tuscarawas County Sheriff planned a news conference for 2 p.m. Monday.
