Staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 9 p.m. Wednesday evening about an overdue kayaker on the Sandusky River. At about 11:30 later that evening the body of 47-year-old William “Mike” Shanaberger was found beneath his overturned kayak.
Shanaberger, who is from North Bloomfield, had entered the river at Harrison Smith Park in Upper Sandusky. He planned to kayak north to his family-owned property near McCutchenville in Seneca County.
Deputies began searching between County Highways 37 and 29 in Tymochtee Township. Shanaberger’s overturned kayak and his body were located about 850 feet north of Ohio 103 near the east bank.
Wyandot County Coroner Dr. Joseph Sberna ruled at the scene the cause of death to be accidental drowning. The Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Upper Sandusky Police Department and the Upper Sandusky EMS Water Rescue Team.