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Coroner Identifies Father and Son in Lake Michigan Drowning Near Dune Acres

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has opened a formal inquiry into the weekend water rescue resulting in drownings.

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SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – MAY 17:  Alex Cooper, owner of Unwell Hydration gestures in the NWSL & Unwell launch fan program Unwell FC prior to the NWSL match between Bay FC and Angel City FC at PayPal Park on May 17, 2025 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Kelley L. Cox/NWSL via Getty Images)
The ArcelorMittal steel mill (now owned by Cleveland-Cliffs) and permanently closed Bailly Generating plant, left, in Burns Harbor is seen from Indiana Dunes National Park in 2019. Boaters Beach is located next to Bailly. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • The Porter County Coroner confirmed the victims as 65-year-old David Meneou of Joliet, Illinois, and his 20-year-old son, Jameson Meneou of Lockport, Illinois.
  • The pair entered deep water around 4:20 p.m. Saturday while playing catch and both began to struggle after Jameson went in to retrieve an overthrown ball.
  • A Good Samaritan pulled them from the lake and Indiana Conservation officers alongside National Park Rangers used off-road vehicles and a patrol boat to perform CPR before they were pronounced dead at a hospital.
  • Authorities say the incident occurred adjacent to Indiana Dunes National Park over the Fourth of July weekend and remains under investigation by the Indiana DNR.
  • The National Weather Service has extended beach hazard warnings for high waves and life-threatening rip currents across southern Lake Michigan beaches through 7 p.m. Monday.