SCSO investigating death at Hubbard Creek Lake

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office along with the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers are investigating a possible drowning at Hubbard Creek Lake. SCSO responded to a call around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29. 

Stephens County Sheriff Kevin Roach said Kade Tyler Mercer, 21, of Breckenridge was found deceased on an area of the lake shore known as the rocks, near Corley’s Landing.

“We were dispatched to a possible drowning. A male called 911 and said his friend was underwater and they couldn’t find him for 10 minutes. While we were en route, he called back and said they found him and pulled him on shore,” Roach said.

Roach said Mercer was at the lake with an unidentified 18-year-old male and 19-year-old male and alcohol was being consumed at the time. 

When authorities arrived at the lake, Roach said the two unidentified men had already left the scene. 

“They were all out swimming and having a good time according to them,” Roach said. “The reason they left is they were young and underage and scared they were going to get in trouble.”

No further information was given on the two men as the incident is still under investigation. The official cause of death has not been determined and no foul play is suspected. 

“I can’t really say emphatically yes or no,” Roach said. “We don’t believe (foul play is involved), but we are waiting on the autopsy.”

According to the daily call log provided by the Breckenridge Police Department, a call came in at 10:31 p.m. from Water District Road 278 of a possible drowning. Dispatched responders arrived at the scene at 10:47 p.m. and were cleared from the scene at 2:43 a.m.

“We responded and had to get out and scour the shoreline to find the body and it took us a little while because it’s rough country,” Roach said. “We were finally able to find the deceased male. His name is Kade Tyler Mercer.”

Mercer, son of city of Breckenridge commissioner Gary Mercer, was a 2020 graduate of Breckenridge High School.

“Anyone that knew Kade loved him once they gave him a chance,” Mercer’s mother Vicki Mercer wrote on a Facebook post Wednesday morning. “All he wanted was to be accepted.”

The investigation, led by SCSO and assisted by the Texas Rangers, is still ongoing. The Breckenridge American is continuing to follow the story.