Bayou Liberty drowning victim identified

By Anne Lautzenheiser
Published on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 9:13 AM CST

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St. Tammany News

A man who died Feb. 22 after he plunged into Slidell's Bayou Liberty has been identified as Raymond Reed, 73, of Picayune, Miss.

Reed's death has been ruled an accidental death by drowning, according to Mark Lombard, chief investigator for the coroner's office. A large cut on Reed's head was determined to be a superficial laceration and not fatal.

"There were no skull fractures or internal bleeding," said Lombard. "The cause of death is drowning."

Sheriff's deputies are still trying to piece together what caused the man to fall into the water. Reed was reportedly seen on his boat, tied up at Bonfouca Marina, but no one actually saw him go into the water.

Harbormaster Susan Giroir and another woman attempted to rescue the man, while a third used a cell phone to call 911, but apparently there were difficulties getting connected to local emergency services.

"There have been reports that the cell towers were routing the calls to dispatchers on the Southshore," said George Bonnett, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

Witnesses also said calls were disconnected several times as dispatchers attempted to transfer the calls to the Northshore. Another witness reportedly called Slidell Memorial Hospital in desperation in an effort to reach emergency medical workers directly.

The case remains under investigation.

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Comments

6 comment(s)

debbie wrote on Nov 2, 2011 10:41 PM:

" erica was a really good friend of mine i miss her soo much its been almost 6 yrs and i still think about her alot i wish it didnet end up this way i wish she never went with them people but thats not going to change anything rip erica "

TraDrika SHockley wrote on Aug 22, 2011 8:46 PM:

" i so miss my sister. i think about her everyday. i cant think straiqht without u crystal i love u very much even thouqh we were jus friends u were my little sister
iiLy SO MUCH SIS
BoTToMs Up!! "

Goog Person wrote on Sep 7, 2010 7:21 PM:

" Your Uncle James killed three People. "

T.Jackson wrote on Dec 25, 2009 6:45 PM:

" My Uncle James was a kind man. During Hurricane Katrina, he was giving people cash to buy gas. He was a pillar in the Pearl River/Slidell Community and he will be GREATLY missed.
Love you Uncle, your favorite neice Tracey. "

Levibluez wrote on Dec 10, 2008 8:44 PM:

" I think I know this guy from childhood. Had brothers dean, earl, karl and sister brenda? "

animal wrote on Aug 24, 2008 2:27 PM:

" We need a new story on here.......... "

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