Denver man drowns at Horseshoe

LATHROP PARK — A Denver man with family ties to Walsenburg drowned Friday evening when he attempted to swim out the island in the middle of Horseshoe lake at Lathrop State Park when he disappeared under the water. The victim was not wearing a life jacket. Rescuers recovered Charles Alan Chacon III’s body from Horseshoe Sunday afternoon after an extensive search that spanned the entire weekend. Officials began searching for the victim, a 24 year-old male, Friday afternoon after a friend reported the victim missing around 2:30 p.m. Boat Rangers from Lake Pueblo State Park were assisted by the Pueblo County Dive Team in searching for the victim. The search lasted late into the evening Friday and all day on Saturday. Windy conditions Friday and Saturday made the search extremely difficult. Sunday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife brought out high tech sonar to aid in the search. The victim’s body was located at 8:30 a.m. with the sonar and recovered by 1:30 p.m. by the Pueblo Sheriff’s dive team. An autopsy has been planned. Official cause of death was determined by the Huerfano County Coroner to be fresh water drowning.