SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Sheriff's Office Investigating Drowning Death of Kansas Man on Navarre Beach

On 9/09/07 shortly after 1am, Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the 8500 Block of Gulf Boulevard on Navarre Beach in reference to a possible drowning. When deputies arrived, they located a female subject waving her arms at the deputies, with a male subject lying on the beach beside her. The male subject appeared to be unconscious. The female told deputies that the male subject was her husband, William James True (51 years old). The female told deputies that she had found her husband lifeless in the water and pulled him to shore. Deputies and paramedics were not able to find a pulse and began CPR. After approximately 40 minutes of CPR and other attempts to revive True, he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday to determine the exact cause of death. The case is currently under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and the Medical Examiner's Office. True and his wife are from the Kansas City , Kansas area and were staying on Navarre Beach celebrating their 25 th Wedding Anniversary. No further information is available at this time.

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net