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Delray Beach man's body retrieved from Lake Osborne after boat flipped over

Roger DeCapito, 28, died Saturday
Posted at 11:32 AM, Jan 08, 2023
and last updated 2023-01-08 18:59:12-05

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Officials confirmed Sunday that they recovered the body of a boater who was missing after his vessel flipped over Saturday on Lake Osborne.

The body of Roger DeCapito, 28, of Delray Beach was discovered at about 10 a.m., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokeswoman Arielle Callender said.

Rescue crews searched the lake, located near Lake Worth Beach, much of Saturday after the vessel crashed, but did not locate the body until a day later.

The body was recovered by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Palm Beach County Sherriff's Office dive teams.

DeCapito's boat was traveling at a high rate of speed and flipped several times, ejecting him from the vessel, according to FWC.

"Our deepest sympathies are with the family of Mr. DeCapito during this difficult time," Callender said in a written statement. "This is an active investigation."

No one else was aboard the boat when it crashed.

John Castro and Cynthia Mondragon, who live nearby, said from their homes they see boats traveling too fast, too often.

John Castro said he frequently sees watercraft traveling at high rates of speed on Lake Osborne.
John Castro said he frequently sees watercraft traveling at high rates of speed on Lake Osborne.

Castro said Saturday's crash was shocking but the speeding is not surprising.

"You see these wave runners speeding all the time," Castro said. "Sometimes you see families kayaking, fishing and they go flying through sometimes racing each other."

Residents hope changes are made to prevent more deaths.

"We learn from our mistakes," Castro said. "I hope they put a wave sign, like a low wave, no speeding sign."

"If anything, I think this should be a lesson on boat safety, on water safety here in Florida because that's a really big deal about living here in this paradise," Mondragon said. "It can be a blessing, but it can also be really dangerous."