UPDATE: Police ID bodies of men recovered in Johnson’s Pond

By: News Staff

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

COVENTRY, R.I. (WLNE) — After nearly 12 hours of searching, the bodies of the two boaters that went overboard at Johnson’s Pond in Coventry and never resurfaced Wednesday night were recovered.

It was a long night for police in Coventry but the bodies of two men, identified as 54-year-old Laurence Ryan and 47-year-old Steven Duarte both from East Providence, have been recovered.

Both bodies were found at approximately 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

The woman who was with them at the time, told the police she went overboard and that they tried to help her before they both went underwater.

She could not operate the boat or help the men, but she did help direct authorities to the spot where they may be. They were found in an area about 10 feet deep.

“She’s physically in good shape. She’s very shook up. She came to the scene earlier to help us try to figure out where they went in the water, and I believe she was helpful in that respect this morning,” said Chief John MacDonald of the Coventry Police Department.

Officials do believe alcohol was involved in the incident, but do not expect charges to be filed.

The boat they were on belongs to a family member of one of the victims that person was not on the boat at the time.

Family members of those victims are currently being notified.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017