Officials find missing 25-year-old Kentucky man last seen on Elkhorn Creek
A missing Kentucky man last seen tubing on Elkhorn Creek in Franklin County was found dead Monday, according to Franklin County officials.
Michael Looby, a 25-year-old from Winchester, was reported missing Saturday after he and four others were pulled into rough water while floating in tubes on Elkhorn Creek, according to Franklin County Sheriff’s Capt. Daniel Wills. The four others made it back to shore safely but Looby never resurfaced.
Looby was pronounced dead at 1:31 p.m. Monday, according to Franklin County Coroner Will Harrod. Looby is scheduled to undergo an autopsy Tuesday.
A search for Looby began immediately after he went missing Saturday, but rough water hindered the initial days of the search. Wills said Friday’s rain made search conditions difficult, and the creek rose an additional four feet Saturday into Sunday.
Data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort rose from about five to nine feet from 6:30 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. The creek has slowly been receding since and is just below 5 1/2 feet as of Tuesday morning.
Officials were able to use boats and sonar equipment when the search resumed Monday, according to Wills. Looby was found in a tree-covered area near where he was last seen.
The Franklin County Fire Department, Lexington Fire Department and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources assisted in the search, Wills said.
