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Last updated on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
(BLOOMINGTON) - An Anderson man found dead in Lake Monroe over the holiday weekend drowned, the Monroe County Coroner’s office said Tuesday.
Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer says Matthew Hosier, 29, of Anderson, died of asphyxiation as a result of chocking and then drowning. He died on this 29th birthday, according to his sister Emily Hosier.
"The death is being ruled a homicide," she stated in a news release.
He died on this 29th birthday, according to his sister Emily Hosier.
Investigators with the Department of Natural Resources said there was an altercation at the Fourwinds boat rental dock involving Hosier and Dillon Barrett. At some point during the altercation, Hosier entered the water and never came up.
Now, the Monroe County coroner has ruled his death a homicide. Barrett faces a preliminary charge of involuntary manslaughter. He and two other friends were arrested.
But Hosier's family said it was an accident and no one is at fault.
"Everybody wants to blame somebody that doesn't understand ... it is a lot easier to blame somebody," Jess Hosier, Matthew's brother said.
And video captured on a cell phone shows Hosier playing in the lake.
Both sisters admit their brother partied hard and had little sleep the night before he drowned.
"He was tired. (It was) a freak accident," Jess Hosier said. "God seen how fun he was, and he wanted him."
A flag flies at half staff at Hosier's childhood home in Perkinsville, near Anderson.
Indeed, it was a big surprise when family of the 29-year-old learned their brother drowned.
But Jess Hosier said there's comfort knowing "he went out doing what he loved, you know, having fun with his friends.
But in addition to Barrett's charges, police said Rian Lemons and Justin Austin have been preliminarily charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
And while Hosier's family doesn't want anyone charged, that decision is up to the prosecutor.
The 29-year-old leaves behind three young children: Areonna, Matius and Matson
Department of Natural Resources officers say Hosier drowned near the dock at the Fourwinds Boat Rental on Lake Monroe Saturday around 6:20 p.m.
A witness at the scene told officer Hosier and three other men were pushing, shoving and knocking each other into the water, when Hosier fell in and didn't resurface.
Perry-Clear Creek Fire Department and Indiana Conservation Officer dive team members entered the water and recovered Hosier at 6:44 p.m.
Hosier was transported to the IU Health Hospital in Bloomington and was later pronounced dead.
Police arrested 22-year-old Dillon Barrett on charges of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and involuntary manslaughter, 33-year-old Rian Lemons, of Anderson on disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and 22-year-old Justin Austin, of Anderson for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
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