Missing fisherman found dead after his tracks lead to hole in ice, ME officials say

A missing ice fisherman has been found dead after Maine game wardens scoured the lake where he was last seen, state officials said.

Allen Cole Jr., 74, was in search of a fishing spot on Seboeis Lake on Friday afternoon, Jan. 6, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said in a news release.

After speaking with another fisherman at a boat launch, Cole got onto his snowmobile, and he and his dog set off onto the frozen lake, officials said. But when evening came, he never returned home and his worried family contacted authorities.

Game wardens began searching that night, according to the release. They found the dog alive, but no sign of its owner — until they spotted snowmobile tracks.

Wardens followed the tracks, which led to a hole in the ice, officials said.

The next day, a dive team went into the water and found Cole’s body around 8:55 a.m., the release said. Wardens believe Cole broke through the ice while riding his snowmobile.

Seboeis Lake is roughly 56 miles north of downtown Bangor.

This story was originally published January 8, 2023 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Missing fisherman found dead after his tracks lead to hole in ice, ME officials say."