Round Top Man Found Dead in Lake Somerville

A Fayette County man was found dead in Somerville Lake on Monday, May 30.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Jim Ross Cole, Jr., 26 of Round Top.

A report from the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call around 10:33 a.m. on Memorial Day reporting a body in the lake near Welch Park. Witnesses said they called 911 after seeing a body floating about 20 yards off the shoreline. The report said a Welch Park worker went into the water and brought the body ashore.

The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office, Somerville Police Department, Texas Park and Wildlife officers and Park Rangers all responded to investigate. They identified Cole as the victim. Investigators believe he was in the water between 24 to 36 hours before discovery.

The report said no witnesses saw Cole enter the water.

The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy. The preliminary results indicate drowning as the cause of death. A final ruling on the cause of death is pending toxicology results, the report said.