KOUNTZE — Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis says the woman who drowned in Village Creek Wednesday morning is Addie Crystal Craven, 39, from Vidor.
Sheriff Davis says Craven's body was recovered from the creek at about 8:45 a.m. according to the Hardin County Sheriff's Office.
Cravens went missing a couple of hours before she was found by her significant other according to Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis. He says Cravens' body was found in the creek near the Highway 327 bridge between Kountze and Silsbee.
An autopsy will be performed under an order from Hardin County Justice of the Peace Charles Brewer according to the sheriff's office.
Stephen Watkins was camping near the creek when the tragedy took place. He spoke with Craven and her husband quite a few times before Craven died. He last saw her early Wednesday morning.
"6:15, she was walking up and down the little, I guess you would call the service road, I'm not sure, but she was walking and running through here naked as a jay bird, screaming about the demons was going to get her," said Watkins.
He said he can't be sure, but it looked as though Craven may have been under the influence of something. After seeing her walking down the road, Watkins didn't see her again. It wasn't until he heard Craven's husband calling out to her that he realized something serious had happened.
"I could hear him yelling at her to get out of the water," said Watkins.
He said Craven's husband attempted to bring her back, but it was too late.
Deputies located Craven pulled off onto one of the banks when they arrived on scene.
Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis said Craven had been camping with family and friends. They told deputies Craven had disappeared a couple of hours before she was found in the waterway.
"A little too tell at this point the exact cause of death, I mean obviously we're looking at a possible drowning, no reason to suspect and foul play," said Sheriff Mark Davis.
Davis said witnesses told them drugs or alcohol may have been a factor in the drowning. Some reported a large party was going on in the wee hours of the morning.
Davis explained if Craven was under the influence, it may have have caused her to become disoriented, and affected her ability to stay up right in the water.
Judge Charles Brewer ordered an autopsy. Results should reveal the exact time and cause of death, and if alcohol or drugs were a factor. They expect to get preliminary results in 72 hours, and the full toxicology scan should be in in about 3 weeks.
Davis cautioned that Village Creek often experiences fluctuating water levels. The water can go up or down several feet from one weekend to the next. He said it's easy to get disoriented in the creek because of the fluctuation, and shifting change in the sandbars.
Davis said it's important to have situational awareness before getting in the creek. He advises swimmers and kayakers pay close attention to the depth of the water, and make use of life preservers when in the water. He also encourages the public to never mix alcohol usage with swimming or boating, as it can lead to injuries or death.
According to Watkins, in the almost 50 years he's been fishing at Village Creek, he's seen or heard of 25 deaths on the creek. He said there are underlying dangers in the creek that swimmers and kayakers need to be aware of.
"If you get caught up in it there's nothing you can do, you're going to the bottom and I'm thinking that's what happened to her this morning," said Watkins.
He hopes after this tragedy something will be done to make the creek a safer place.
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From the Hardin County Sheriff's Office...
At approximately 9:00 a.m. this morning, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to Village Creek, near the Hwy 327 Bridge in Silsbee, to investigate a possible drowning death.
Deputies recovered the body of a 39 year old white female from the creek.
Hardin County Justice of the Peace Charles Brewer ordered an autopsy and the body has been sent to the Jefferson County Morgue.
The victim’s identity will be released, pending notification of next of kin.