What This Story Is About
- TWRA recovered the body of missing Maryville kayaker Richard Kitts, 57, from Tellico Lake a week after he vanished during a nighttime paddle, with officials confirming he wasn’t wearing a life jacket.
Why It Matters
- His death is the 13th boating-related fatality on Tennessee waters this year, and his wife is using his story to urge other boaters to wear life jackets.
- No further law enforcement action or investigation steps
For Context
- Kitts left home Aug. 12 to kayak; his car was found without the kayak at Tallassee Access Area, triggering an eight-day search by air, land and water before his body was found near Citico Boat Ramp.
Catch Up
- Kitts left home Aug. 12 to kayak; his car was found without the kayak at Tallassee Access Area, triggering an eight-day search by air, land and water before his body was found near Citico Boat Ramp.
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — The body of a missing Maryville kayaker was recovered from Tellico Lake Wednesday morning, one week after he was reported missing, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Now, the kayaker’s family is sending out a message to those who plan to go out on the water.
TWRA game wardens found the body of 57-year-old Richard Kitts during a shoreline search around 7:45 a.m. in the main channel off Citico Boat Ramp. Members of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team recovered the body around 10:30 a.m. Kitts was not wearing a personal flotation device, TWRA said.
Search began after night paddle
Kitts left home around 8 p.m. on Aug. 12 to kayak on Tellico Lake, according to his wife, Patty Kitts. His son, Brandon Kitts, found his father’s car at the Tallassee Access Area with no kayak in sight.
“I knew when I pulled up in the bike, the kayak wasn’t on the car,” Brandon Kitts said. “And they kept saying they were doing a search and rescue. I knew — I knew they weren’t going to find him.”…