The body of a man who disappeared while boating with his 2-year-old son Monday has been recovered Friday near Denton Creek, authorities say.[[415545853,R]]
Matthew Meinert, 38, was reported missing west of Grapevine Lake. Search crews located Meinert's son, Oliver, wandering alone in a wooded area the following morning but were unable to locate Meinert after several days of searching.
Officials said Oliver was cold and had a few scratches but asked for some juice and was otherwise OK when they reunited him with his mother later in the morning.
The Texas Game Warden's Office said Oliver was unable to tell them anything about what took place or where his father was.
Matthew Meinert's body was located just before 6 p.m. Friday just a few yards away from where the boat was found, the Game Warden's Office said.
"We're just thankful to have some closure for the family and we're obviously thankful for the child being found alive and well," said Capt. Cliff Swofford, with the Texas Game Wardens.
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Swofford also confirmed to NBC 5 the boater did not have a life jacket on when his body was discovered.
He added that while the boy is believed to have been in the boat at one point, it is not known if he was wearing a life jacket when he was found on Tuesday morning.
The medical examiner has taken possession of Meinert's body and will determine the cause and manner of his death.
Emergency personnel from Trophy Club, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Roanoke, Flower Mound, Argyle, Little Elm, Mansfield, Hurst, Joshua and Denton County assisted in the searches, which included searches on foot with trained dogs, with a boat equipped with sonar and with drones and a Department of Public Safety helicopter.
