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Police: Body Of Missing LI Kayaker Found In Lake Ronkonkoma

LAKE RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Suffolk County said they have recovered the body of a kayaker who went missing in Lake Ronkonkoma on Aug. 14.

With assistance from New York State Police troopers, officers recovered the body at approximately 12 p.m. Saturday.

Police identified the kayaker as 40-year-old Kevin Conley, of Sound Beach.

Conley's father, Harold, told 1010 WINS last Saturday that his son was dying from Huntington's disease at the time of his disappearance.

He also said Kevin, though a regular at the lake, didn't have any experience with kayaking prior to his lake excursion.

"He just bought it from some guy over there at the lake for $50 bucks," Harold Conley said. "That's the first time he had a kayak."

Conley said his son was not a very good swimmer either.

Police found the kayak, which had a hole in it, shortly after Conley's disappearance. Conley's father said his son knew the kayak had a hole in it, 1010 WINS reported last week.

It took search crews more than a week to locate Conley's body.

Witnesses called 911 on Aug. 14 to report a kayaker was in the water and yelling for help. Conley then disappeared under the water and never resurfaced.

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