Cumming Woman Drowns in Lake Lanier

BUFORD – A woman who was first thought to be missing drowned in Lake Lanier Wednesday night, according to Hall County Fire Chief David Kimbrell.

Kimbrell confirmed with Cumming Patch the woman has been identified by the Hall County coroner as 25-year-old Mary Elizabeth Davidson of Cumming. She was visiting people she knew on Samoa Way in Buford.

"We received a call just a little after nine last night (Aug. 3)," Kimbrell said. "Initially the call was for a missing person who was last seen near the water at a private dock."

Soon after authorities arrived at the Buford location they began interviewing witnesses.

"One had reported her sitting on the dock and one had reported her in the water right in front of the dock," said Kimbrell. "All of the bystanders thought she had possibly just wandered off and was up in the woods."

While a rescue boat was en route, a search was underway in the wooded area of the shoreline between firefighters and bystanders on the scene.

Kimbrell said when the rescue boat arrived, divers were in the water searching for Davidson in the area where one of the witnesses said she was reportedly last seen. They found her in that location in about 18 feet of water.

Davidson was not wearing a life jacket, according to Kimbrell.

The Hall County Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation of the drowning.