Advisory
Deceased person found on August 21 in water off Daufuskie Island identified as missing person Craig Lamonte Jones
Case History
Deceased Person found off Daufuskie Island
On Saturday, August 21, a deceased person was found in the water near Freeport Marina on Daufuskie Island.
The Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Unit, Dive Team and the Beaufort County Coroner's Office responded to the area of Freeport Marina and recovered the deceased person from the water.
An identification was not made at the time of the deceased person's recovery.
Forensic Autopsy and Identification
On Tuesday, August 24, a forensic autopsy was conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina, which revealed the person, an adult male, had died from drowning.
The deceased man was not identified at autopsy.
Today, August 26, with the assistance of fingerprint examiners from the Charleston Police Department, the Coroner's Office was able to identify the deceased man as missing person Craig Lamonte Jones.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's and Coroner's offices would like to thank the Charleston Police Department for its assistance in the identification of Craig Lamonte Jones.
Deceased person found on August 21 in water off Daufuskie Island identified as missing person Craig Lamonte Jones 
The deceased person found in the water off Daufuskie Island on August 21, 2021 has been identified by the Beaufort County Coroner's Office as missing person Craig Lamonte Jones.
Case History
At approximately 7:50 a.m. on Saturday, August 14, 2021, witnesses observed an adult male jump into the water from a dock near Melrose Landing Road on Daufuskie Island.
Witnesses further reported that, after jumping into the water, the man did not surface.
The Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol and Aviation units, the Coast Guard, Beaufort Water Search and Rescue and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded to Daufuskie Island and searched the waters for the missing man; he was not located.
Through investigation, it was learned that the man who jumped into the water was 51-year-old Craig Lamonte Jones of Daufuskie Island.
Search efforts in the waters off Daufuskie Island continued for several days.
Witnesses further reported that, after jumping into the water, the man did not surface.
The Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol and Aviation units, the Coast Guard, Beaufort Water Search and Rescue and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded to Daufuskie Island and searched the waters for the missing man; he was not located.
Through investigation, it was learned that the man who jumped into the water was 51-year-old Craig Lamonte Jones of Daufuskie Island.
Search efforts in the waters off Daufuskie Island continued for several days.
Deceased Person found off Daufuskie Island
On Saturday, August 21, a deceased person was found in the water near Freeport Marina on Daufuskie Island.
The Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol Unit, Dive Team and the Beaufort County Coroner's Office responded to the area of Freeport Marina and recovered the deceased person from the water.
An identification was not made at the time of the deceased person's recovery.
Forensic Autopsy and Identification
On Tuesday, August 24, a forensic autopsy was conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina, which revealed the person, an adult male, had died from drowning.
The deceased man was not identified at autopsy.
Today, August 26, with the assistance of fingerprint examiners from the Charleston Police Department, the Coroner's Office was able to identify the deceased man as missing person Craig Lamonte Jones.
The Beaufort County Sheriff's and Coroner's offices would like to thank the Charleston Police Department for its assistance in the identification of Craig Lamonte Jones.
Address/Location
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office
2001 Duke St
Beaufort, SC 29902
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 843-255-3200