Missing kayaker located in Hubbard Creek Lake

The body of a missing kayaker was found Tuesday morning after a nearly two-day-long search on Hubbard Creek Lake. 

Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach confirmed the deceased missing body of Dakota Matthew Boulevard, 42, of Breckenridge was found around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday morning southwest of the Village Inn boat ramp. Boulevard had been missing since his kayak capsized Sunday night. 

“It was in the area we expected to find him in,” Roach said. “The weather played a little bit of difficulty (Monday). Around mid-morning, that rain shower came through and the wind picked up and caused us to halt the (search) for an hour because it became a safety factor.”

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office began a search for Boulevard at Hubbard Creek Lake near the Village Inn boat ramp Sunday night after his kayak capsized as a thunderstorm traveled through the area, June 11. Officials from SCSO, Stephens County Constable, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Parks and Wildlife resumed the search Monday morning. Roach said his office received a call at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 11 regarding the kayak. 

“We received at 8 p.m., right as the storm was hitting, of a male and female kayaking on Hubbard Creek Lake,” Roach said. “The female made it to shore and the male did not. Last night, we searched with watercraft and with drones.” 

When the search resumed Monday morning, the sheriff said first responders were using three boats and a drone. In a joint press release with Stephens County Judge Michael Roach Sunday night, the two asked that the public keep away from the area.

“The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, along with several state and local agencies, are actively conducting a search operation for a missing kayaker on the Hubbard Creek Reservoir. Stephens County Emergency Management and the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office appreciate the willingness of citizens to assist in this effort, however, congestion on the water may hamper search efforts,” the release stated. “We kindly ask for individuals to refrain from entering the search area while law enforcement and  first responders are active. Any request for the public’s assistance will be relayed through official law enforcement or government agencies.” 

Roach said he appreciated the support of the community and the outreach for help during the search.

“I do want to thank the community for all of their help and support and offers of resources,” the sheriff said. “We obviously weren’t able to share details of the investigation, but based off (of) it, we didn't need lots of searchers in lots of areas. We knew we were contained to a small area.”