Body removed from water in Arcadia Lakes community

The body of a middle aged African American male was pulled from a lake in a gated community near Arcadia Lakes Wednesday afternoon.

The body was probably in the water less than 2 days, Richland County coroner Gary Watts said. An autopsy will be performed Thursday morning to determine cause of death, he said.

The body was discovered by the son of an elderly resident around 2 pm. He stopped to check on his father’s well-being, Sergeant Kevin Lawrence of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said.

The man called authorities when he saw what he thought was a body in the water behind his father’s house. Members of the Columbia Fire Department removed the body from the water.

“We do not have an ID on the gentleman,” Watts said. Anyone who thinks they may be able to help identify the man is urged to call the coroner’s office at (803) 576-1799.

This story was originally published June 17, 2015 at 6:15 PM.