DENVER — The bodies of a missing Denver band member and his son were found in an Arkansas lake over the weekend after the duo went kayaking.
On March 16, Charles “Chuck” Morris IV, 47, and his son Charles “Charley” Morris V, 20, were reported missing after kayaking on Beaver Lake near Fayetteville, Arkansas, according to the office of the Benton County Sheriff.
Chuck Morris was the electronic and acoustic percussionist for Lotus, a five-piece Denver-based band that for the past eight years has been creating “electronic dance music with instrumental post-rock,” according to its website.
They had started kayaking on Beaver Lake in Benton County around 11 a.m. with plans to return at 2 p.m. Chuck Morris’ wife became concerned once they weren’t home by 4 p.m. and called the sheriff’s office.
Storms had started to move through the area, bringing wind gusts of up to 35 mph. According to a GoFundMe set up to support the family, “weather and other elements created a perfect storm on the lake, and in the lake it was insurmountable.”
Deputies began searching Beaver Lake and found two kayaks and a jacket.
Benton County Sheriff’s Office (Arkansas)
Efforts were reduced on March 22, although they continued to work to recover the two men.
After 24 days, on April 9, rescuers found their bodies and were able to recover them. Charley Morris’ body was found first and the sheriff’s office told the family they believed the cause of death was drowning. Later the same day, Chuck Morris’ body was located.
Lotus will hold several benefit concerts in Denver, Pennsylvania and New York, with 100% of the net proceeds from these special shows going directly to the Morris family. These dates are:
- April 21, Fillmore Auditorium in Denver
- April 22, Fillmore Auditorium in Denver
- May 5, XL Live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- May 6, the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York
Click here for ticket information.
A GoFundMe has also been set up to support the Morris family.
Denver 7+ Colorado News Latest Headlines | April 10, 8 a.m.
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