(CNN)An Arkansas judge was found missing at the bottom of a lake on Sunday while traveling with family and friends. found dead. Over the weekend, officials said.
"After some time passed and no one saw or heard of Buker, worries began," the release states. "Family and friends began searching for Buker."
After the sun went down, the family still had not found Buker and called 911, the release said. An extensive ground and water search was conducted late at night and early in the morning by wildlife officers from the Sheriff's Department and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Ultimately, poor visibility forced the search to be suspended, the sheriff's office said.
On Sunday morning, the search resumed, with officials using boats equipped with Side's scan her sonar to search the lake and be able to get a "bird's eye view of the water," Lafayette Woods said. his junior sheriff said. release.
"At approximately 9:16 a.m., side-scan sonar detected a body at the bottom of the lake," the sheriff's office said.
The family helped authorities identify the recovered body as that of Buker, and an autopsy will be conducted by the state coroner, the sheriff's office said. .
"The successful recovery of Judge Buker's remains by our lieutenants and the Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Officer brings some sense of closure to the Buker family and those who knew him best. I pray for you," said Woods.
CNN contacted the Stuttgart District Court, where Buker was a district judge.
April Davis, the Jefferson County Deputy Coroner who responded to the scene, said she had no signs of foul play. I said yes.
A state coroner's autopsy is standard procedure, according to Davis. The body was taken to her office on Sunday, and an autopsy is expected to be performed this week, she said, with reports expected in about three to six months. It is located approximately 40 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee.
