DELAWARE, Ohio — An Ohio Wesleyan sophomore and his father are missing and feared dead during a kayaking trip in Arkansas.
Charley Morris, 20, and Chuck Morris, 47, have been missing since March 16. The pair was on a kayaking trip while Ohio Wesleyan University was on spring break.
Tuesday, Ohio Wesleyan posted the following message:
The OWU community is heartbroken at the announcement that authorities have strong evidence that sophomore Charley Morris and his father, Charles, drowned in Beaver Lake, Arkansas. As Rock Jones said in a message to campus, “He will be remembered for his love for his family and the outdoors, his talent as a runner in cross country and track, his service as a Bishop Scholar tutor in local elementary schools, his dedication to his classwork, and his participation with OWU’s chamber orchestra. Most of all, he will be remembered at OWU as a beloved friend.” We miss you, Charley.
Chuck Morris is the drummer for Lotus, an instrumental electronic jam band. The band has shared updates about the search for Charley and Chuck, and publicized a gofundme campaign to raise money for their family.
We were all hoping for a miracle, but at this point, the search for Chuck and Charley has moved to a recovery. With help from the K9 team, there is a probable location on the lake, but logistical challenges including temperature, weather, and depth have prevented a recovery thus far. It is unknown how long these efforts may take. While we are deeply grieving, we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charley’s lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people. Thank you to all who have reached out with fond words, stories, emotional and financial support. Help support the family’s immediate financial needs by donating atgofund.me/bd9a1acf
Lotus
Lt. Shannon Jenkins from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office told KNWA the weather has made the search difficult.
“One of the biggest things for us last night was, you know, the weather coming in the wind was definitely not in our favor I think it was like wind gusts up to 35 and the storm was coming in at about 60 miles an hour,” Jenkins said Friday.