Man found dead in Tomahawk Lake

By Nathan Mayberg
BYRAM — State Police divers located the body of a 39-year-old reported missing in Lake Tomahawk on Sunday morning.

Friends and family of Edison Gomez told police the night before that he disappeared after he was last seen swimming in the lake, Bryam Police Chief Raymond Rafferty said.

While Lake Tomahawk is a private lake, it is open to the public for swimmming under certain hours.

It wasn't immediately clear if Gomez was swimming during the hours open to the public or later.

Rafferty said police were contacted about the missing person at 7:17 p.m., when the lake was closed.

The friends and family of Gomez didn't immediately realize that he was missing immediately after they were done swimming, according to Rafferty.

Byram police searched for Gomez, along with help from the Byram Fire Department, a State Police helicopter, the Sussex County Sheriff's Office and Lakeland Emergency Squad.

The search lasted about five hours Saturday night, before resuming in the morning, Rafferty said.

The cause and manner of death for Gomez was pending, as of Monday afternoon.