Two men found dead in Central Kentucky lake believed to have drowned
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- Two Richmond men, ages 63 and 64, were found dead at Wilgreen Lake.
- Families found vehicles at the boat ramp and alerted police after no return.
- Officials suspect drowning; autopsies and Fish and Wildlife probe continue.
Two men were found dead Wednesday night in a Central Kentucky lake, and officials believe they drowned.
Ronnie Rollins, 64, and Anthony Hoover, 63, both of Richmond, were pronounced dead at 10:54 p.m. by Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison. The coroner said their bodies were found in Wilgreen Lake across from the boat ramp at 521 Wilgreen Lake Road.
Rollins and Hoover went fishing Wednesday morning and never returned home. Cornelison said when family members became concerned, they went to the boat ramp and saw their vehicles, which prompted them to call police.
Officials found an empty boat after about five minutes on the water, according to a spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. Lifejackets were also found floating in the water.
Officials found Rollins and Hoover’s bodies floating in the water shortly after, according to the fish and wildlife spokesperson. They are believed to have drowned, but their bodies were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy.
Cornelison said there weren’t any obvious factors that could have contributed to their deaths, as water conditions were calm. Evidence suggests one of the victims fell into the water and the other fell while throwing the life jackets, according to the fish and wildlife spokesperson.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the incident.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 9:27 AM.
