Lebanon Junction, Ky. – The body of 50-year-old James Dishon Jr. was recovered Tuesday afternoon from floodwaters in Bullitt County, Kentucky. Dishon’s remains were found just before noon, near the intersection of Lee Booth Road and State Road 61 in Lebanon Junction. According to Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings, the cause of death was drowning, though the exact time of death remains unclear. Dishon was last seen by family members late Saturday evening.
Emergency workers, police, and local volunteers had been searching for Dishon for several days. His truck had been located submerged in floodwaters, and authorities believe he attempted to drive through the high water, eventually abandoning his vehicle and attempting to walk to safety. His body was found less than 50 yards from his truck, which had been sitting in the floodwaters for three days before being discovered.
James Dishon, a long-time resident of the area, was familiar with the roads around Lebanon Junction, having driven through the area frequently over the years. Neighbors reported that the truck had been submerged for several days, and it was only after an extended search that authorities found him. Local resident Jim Stark, whose home was also surrounded by floodwaters, described the search efforts, noting that the water was deep and swift, making it difficult for emergency workers to navigate the area.
“I saw something by my driveway and suggested they check it out,” Stark said. “I couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but when they went down to look, they found him. There’s a culvert nearby, and if he tried to walk through the water, it would have been difficult to get through safely.”
According to Pastor Tina Lord of the Church of God Prophecy in Kentucky, Dishon had spoken to his father prior to the incident. His father had warned him to stay in town because of the flooding, but Dishon had reportedly planned to return home. “His dad told him, ‘Don’t go home, it’s flooded. We’re at your sister’s,’” Lord explained. “But Dishon didn’t heed the warning, and the next thing they knew, they found his truck, but he was missing.”
Though Dishon was not a regular attendee at the church, Lord shared that he had recently visited after his granddaughter invited him to attend a service. “When a little granddaughter asks you to come to church, you go,” she said. “It’s been a while since he came, but he came for her.”
Lord, who was with Dishon’s parents when the body was discovered, spoke of the family’s devastation. “We were praying for a different outcome, but deep down, we knew it might not end well. We were hoping and trusting in faith, but it didn’t turn out how we had hoped.”
Dishon’s death marks the fifth fatality in Kentucky related to the historic flooding that has affected the state. Governor Andy Beshear had previously confirmed the deaths of four others, including a 74-year-old woman from Nelson County. As floodwaters continue to wreak havoc across Kentucky, local communities remain in shock, mourning the loss of Dishon and others who have fallen victim to the disaster.
The ongoing flooding serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of rising waters, as well as the importance of heeding safety warnings during extreme weather events.
