BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI) — Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency game wardens have recovered the body of a Maryville man who disappeared while kayaking on Tellico Lake one week ago.
TWRA officials said the body of Richard Kitts, 57, of Maryville, was located during a targeted shoreline search at approximately 7:45 a.m. EDT Wednesday in the main channel near the Citico Boat Ramp. Members of the Blount County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Team recovered the body at about 10:30 a.m.
Authorities noted that Kitts was not wearing a personal flotation device when he was found.
The search for Kitts began on August 12 after TWRA was notified around 1:40 p.m. of a possible missing person near the Tallassee Access Area along Highway 129. Investigators learned Kitts had left his residence the previous evening around 8 p.m. with plans to kayak on Tellico Lake.
During the initial response, game wardens located Kitts’ vehicle at the access area. Later that day, a boater discovered his kayak and paddle floating about a mile downstream from the access point, just below Chilhowee Dam. Personal belongings belonging to Kitts were found inside the kayak.
That discovery prompted an extensive search effort involving multiple local and state agencies.
Over the following week, TWRA coordinated search operations with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tellico Boaters Assistance Response Team, Knox County Rescue Squad, and several volunteer organizations. Search teams conducted shoreline and island searches, aerial surveys, and water-based operations using visual searches and side-scan sonar technology.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Aviation Unit and multiple drone teams assisted in covering the rugged and remote terrain surrounding the lake, where radio and cellular service can be limited.
On Saturday, volunteer search organization CAM SAR joined the effort with remotely operated vehicle technology and specialized towfish scanning equipment designed to locate objects in deep water. Search crews examined areas upstream toward Chilhowee Dam and downstream from the access area.
Community volunteers, including some who traveled from outside Tennessee, also assisted in searching shallow shoreline areas using kayaks and other paddle craft.
In recent days, search operations had shifted to targeted searches conducted twice daily. During one of those searches Wednesday morning, TWRA personnel located Kitts’ body.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, and Kitts’ body has been transported for examination.
TWRA expressed condolences to Kitts’ family and thanked the numerous agencies, organizations, and volunteers who assisted in the weeklong search effort.
Officials also noted that the incident marks the 13th fatal boating-related incident on Tennessee waterways in 2026.
