Body found at Saddle Lake, Perry County investigation continues

Saddle Lake and Saddle Lake Road were closed Monday after boaters found the body of a dead man in the water, drawing Indiana State Police, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI into a Memorial Day investigation that was still developing.

Investigators said the deceased was male and that his vehicle was found near the scene. Officials had not released his identity, and they said he had not been reported missing before the body was discovered. The sheriff’s office said there was no believed threat to public safety, but it also asked anyone with information to call 911 as detectives continued to piece together what happened.

The discovery disrupted holiday access at one of Perry County’s quieter recreation spots. Saddle Lake Recreation Area sits in the Hoosier National Forest in Perry County National Park and was one of four flood-control lakes built along the Middle Fork of the Anderson River. The U.S. Forest Service says the site now has only a primitive campground, a boat ramp and a hiking trail, though it is still used for boating, fishing and other outdoor access.

Lake listings describe Saddle Lake as roughly 39 acres, a small size that makes any major law-enforcement response highly visible. The location’s limited access points also likely made the closure of the lake and Saddle Lake Road especially disruptive for Memorial Day visitors who expected to reach the water for the holiday.

The involvement of the FBI signaled a serious and still-unfolding case as state and local authorities worked the scene. For Perry County residents and visitors, the immediate concerns were access, safety and the unanswered questions around the man’s death. Officials said they would continue the investigation while the public stayed clear of the area and checked for verified updates from law enforcement.