Kayaker Dies Under Suspicious Circumstances at State Park

HUNTSVILLE,  TX – Law Enforcement officials in Huntsville are investigating the death of a kayaker who went missing last week in Huntsville State Park after renting a kayak and disappearing.   Lake Raven in Huntsville State Park is known to be home to alligators.  

Here's the latest from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: 

The investigation into Jennifer Luten’s cause of death is still ongoing. Her death appears to be drowning-related and not caused by an alligator attack.

Texas State Park Police, with assistance from the Huntsville Fire Department, Huntsville Police Department, New Waverly Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Game Wardens, responded to a missing person report at Huntsville State Park on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The victim, Jennifer Luten, 44, of Montgomery, was recovered from Lake Raven on Saturday, Oct. 28. The investigation into her death is still ongoing, but we will update the public as we are able.

The victim rented a kayak from the self-serve station at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The kayak was found free floating on Lake Raven by other kayakers on Wednesday morning. The victim’s vehicle was still parked at the boat ramp. Search teams utilized divers, sonar boats and K-9 teams to search the lake and surrounding areas.

Texas State Park Police are currently searching Huntsville State Park for a missing 44-year-old Caucasian female from Montgomery. The subject rented a kayak from the self-serve station at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The kayak was found free floating on Lake Raven by other kayakers on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 25 and the subject’s vehicle was still parked at the boat ramp.

Search teams, including divers, sonar boats and K-9 teams with the Huntsville Fire Department, Huntsville Police Department, New Waverly Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Game Wardens have been assisting state park police in searching the lake and surrounding areas. At this point, no other information is available, but we will update the public as soon as we can.