Rockholds woman drowns in small farm pond; incident still under investigation

Whitley County officials say a Rockholds woman apparently drowned in a small farm pond near her house Sunday afternoon and Sheriff Colan Harrell is reminding everyone to be careful around water no matter how small the body of water may be.

"It doesn’t take much. You don’t have to have an ocean of water to drown in," Harrell said. "I want to caution swimmers that you’re not as strong a swimmer now as you were when you quit swimming last September so be very cautious."

While Sunday’s drowning had nothing to do with swimming, Harrell said he would still caution people to remember that they need to build their muscles back as summer swimming season kicks off.

Chief Deputy Coroner Jerry Croley pronounced Wanda Sue Lambdin, 63, dead about 4:35 p.m. Sunday.

She was sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort where Dr. John Hunsaker performed an autopsy.

"It is still under investigation. The findings so far are very consistent with accidental drowning. There are no signs of any foul play," Croley noted. "It’s very tragic."

The drowning happened in a farm pond on Lambdin’s property at 557 Egner Hollow Road about 100 yards from her home.

"Her husband and family were at home. Her husband had started to cook supper. She just went outside and took a walk," Croley said.

He said that the pond was located in a small hollow that had some shade and was probably one of the cooler areas on the property.

Harrell said Lambdin’s family last saw her about 2:30 p.m. Her son, Robert, missed her and started looking for her. He found her about 3 p.m. and called for help.

The pond was relatively shallow in the area where Lambdin drown, Harrell said.

"It being a hot day, she apparently walked into the pond to cool down and got stuck. She apparently got disoriented, fell in the water and drown," Harrell said. "It was a tragic accidental drowning."

Woodbine Fire and Rescue and Whitley County EMS were dispatched to the scene but it was too late.

Woodbine used a boat and retrieved the body from the pond.

Sgt. Ken Shepherd and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office are continuing the investigation.

Croley Funeral Home is in charge of Lambdin’s funeral arrangements.