Police: Man drowned while trying to swim across Pine Lake

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office confirmed a body found Monday morning in Pine Lake, south of Lexington, was Bryant Price.

Price, 25, of Jackson, was trying to swim across the lake Sunday afternoon near the designated swimming area when, witnesses told police, he went underwater, Sgt. Danny Crownover said in a police report.

Crownover said in the report he spoke with Adam Nunnery, who was swimming with Price.

"(Nunnery) stated that Bryant A. Price Jr. went under the water and never came back up," Crownover said. "He stated he noticed Price turn back around to try and swim back to shore."

In his report, Crownover said Price had tried to swim to the wooded area on the opposite side of the lake.

Nunnery told deputies he and Price were swimming with another man, Brian Rhodes. According to the report, Nunnery told Crownover that he and Rhodes tried to help Price but could not.

"Nunnery stated Rhodes was upset and left prior to arrival (of investigators,)" Crownover said.

Police arrived at Pine Lake about 1:44 p.m. and changed shifts about 6 p.m.

The Rescue Squad and the West Tennessee Dive Team were on scene throughout the night trying to find Price's body.

Officials dragged the lake — a method which used chains and hooks to scrape the bottom of the lake to find objects for divers to search — and used sonar to mark areas where objects were found.

About 1:25 a.m. Monday, sheriff's deputies confirmed a body had been found in the lake. Later Monday morning, officials confirmed the body recovered was Price's.

Family and friends were on the scene Sunday afternoon and into the night. Price's mother, ToraKizer, said her son went by "AJ."

Kizer described her son as loving and kind to everyone he met.

Reach Maranda at (731) 425-9657. Follow her on Twitter: @MarandaFaris