A historic river boat at the Jacksonport State Park may have sunk because of a hole in a pipe and not vandalism, as officials originally thought, the park’s superintendent said.
The Mary Woods II sank on Jan. 31, and two men are in jail on charges stemming from the sinking. River Diving and Salvage raised the boat earlier this month and after removing debris, workers found the hole.
“An inlet pipe and the side of the hull just above the waterline had a rusty hole in that pipe,” said Jacksonport park superintendent Mark Ballard. “We weren’t aware of that hole being there ... the pipe has been cut off and a plate has been welded.”
Richard Rife and Paul Morrison have been held at the Jackson County Jail since shortly after the boat sank, charged with commercial burglary and criminal mischief in connection with the Mary Wood’s sinking. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A prosecutor says the charges won’t be dropped until official documents are received from River Diving and Salvage regarding the matter.
Ballard said that officials have to determine the cost of restoring the boat. If officials decide to restore it, he said, “we’ll at least be able to do some things to prevent this from happening again.”