By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The body of 21-year-old John Sisbarro was found in the Oaklyn Hills subdivision private lake after Pelham Fire Department was called to investigate a missing person report.

Responders arrived on the scene at about 4 p.m. on July 15. Sisbarro’s father was already on the scene and had been searching for his son for about an hour prior to calling the fire department, according to Lt. Ricky King.

Sisbarro’s kayak was floating freely in the lake and his pickup truck was still parked at the dock, so King said Sisbarro’s father believed his son had been fishing out on the lake and drowned. Surrounding neighbors also confirmed seeing the victim out in the kayak during the day.

Because one side of Oaklyn Hills subdivision is in Chelsea and the other is in Pelham, Chelsea Fire Department was also involved in the search, along with further assistance from Calera Police Department dive team. After about two and a half hours, Calera’s sonar equipment located the body. It was a little before 8 p.m. when they found him, according to Kind.

The body was turned over to the police department and was taken to the Shelby County Coroner’s Office. Shelby County coroner Diana New said no foul play is suspected in this incident. Sisbarro had a medical history that could have contributed to his falling from the kayak and drowning. New said they will know for sure once an autopsy is performed.

Oaklyn Hills is Pelham’s second drowning in 2015. A 17-year-old man drowned at Oak Mountain State Park in June.