WASHINGTON COUNTY — A Monday night search and rescue operation in Washington County resulted in a tragic ending, when officials located the body of a 72-year-old Ashley man in a pond on a relative’s property in Radom.

According to the Washington County Coroner’s Office, they responded around 1:38 a.m. Tuesday to a location in the 3200 block of Virginia Road in Radom, where Joseph Kujawa was pronounced dead at 2:20 a.m.

Kujawa had been reported as missing to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Monday night. He was last seen around 3 p.m. Monday when he told his wife he was going to work outside.

When he failed to return by 9 p.m., his family went looking for him and located his truck at the Virginia Road location which was the property of a relative.

The Washington County Search and Recovery Team was dispatched to the area at 12:08 a.m. and Mr. Kujawa’s body was found by the team in a pond at at approximately 1:30 a.m.

It appeared he was attempting to feed fish in the pond when he lost his footing on the muddy bank and fell into the water.

Mr. Kujawa was recovered from the pond by the Ashley Fire Department with assistance from the Washington County Ambulance Service, Washington County ESDA and Coroner.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department and Irvington Police Department assisted in the investigation.
Cause of death was determined to be accidental drowning.

No autopsy or inquest is planned.