Olney Man, 18, Drowns During Pondside Party

A 18-year-old Olney youth drowned Friday night, while attending a pondside party on the Dugan farm some eight miles northeast of Olney.

The body of Johhny E. Enlow was recovered from the pond at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday during dragging operations by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Conservation offices. The crew recovered the body on the first drag of the pond, which varies in depth from five to fifteen feet.

Enlow was last seen at the party at 1:45 a.m. Saturday, according to Richland County Coroner, Susan Landis. Miss Landis said five or six persons who also attended the party have told officials Enlow was “possibly highly intoxicated” at the time. Final verification of alcohol content in Enlow’s blood will be made by state analysts, Landis added, she does not suspect foul play.

She feels that Enlow apparently either fell into the pond or decided to take a swim. The bank is not lined with rocks and the pond has a mud bottom.

Richland County Sheriff, Harry McPheron said Wednesday that about 100 persons attended the party and that several heard splashing in the pond but didn’t investigate.

McPheron said the first report his office received of the incident didn’t come until Sunday when Enlow was reported missing. Monday evening several youths told sheriff’s deputies that Enlow was at the party, McPheron said.

The victim’s mother, Mrs. Guelia Enlow, asked the sheriff’s department to terminate the search because she felt her son was probably visiting friends or relatives, McPheron said. Coroner Landis reported that Enlow “was in the habit of being absent from home for a few days at a time,” and said she felt this was the reason nobody became overly concerned about his disappearance.

Another girl who had been present at the party on Friday night told McPheron later Monday that she feared Enlow had fallen into the water. McPheron and the girl went to the site Monday night but it was too late to begin searching for the body, McPheron said.

Johnny Edward Enlow, 18, of 608 N. Walnut St., Olney was found dead in a pond near Dundas on Tuesday afternoon, April 27, 1976. Funeral services in Summers Funeral Home, Olney and services also in Peoria with burial in Springdale Cemetery, Peoria.

Mr. Enlow was born October 25, 1957 in Peoria, son of Robert A. and Guelia (Yockey) Enlow.

Surviving are his father of Peoria; mother of Olney; brother, Robert L. Enlow of Peoria; sisters, Susan Enlow of Peoria, Janet Carrington of Bicknell, Ind. and grandmother, Hazel Enlow of Peoria.

Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) – Thursday, April 29, 1976