Body of missing San Antonio man located at Canyon Lake

James Karczewski, 54, last seen Saturday near Boat Ramp 21

CANYON LAKE, Texas – The body of a missing 54-year-old San Antonio man was located Sunday afternoon in Canyon Lake.

James Karczewski was reported missing Saturday night after he dropped off a friend at Boat Ramp 21 to get a pickup truck to load the boat, but when the friend returned, Karczewski never returned with the boat, said Jeff Carter, a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden.

After several hours of searching by dive teams, Karczewski's body was located in 23-feet-deep water,  Carter said.

"We have closure, so that is a big thing," Carter said. "When it drags out a few days, that makes it tough. So at least we got closure for the family. All I can say is wear your life jackets."

Rocky Cardenas said he went to Canyon Lake on Saturday to test out a boat when he ran into Karczewski's friend, who asked him if he could help him.

They circled around the boat several times, but trees and shallow water prevented them from getting close until they saw an eerie sight.

"I saw two blue Crocs-like shoes about this far from each other, and when I saw that I knew that something was badly wrong," Cardenas said.

The men then called the Comal County Sheriff's Office.

"Last night I couldn't sleep just thinking about it," Cardenas said. "I was thinking, 'Maybe if I would have been here maybe 15 minutes before, maybe I would have seen him.'"


About the Author:

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.