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FAIRFIELD, IOWA -- A drowning Fairfield is officially ruled an accident.

The Iowa State Medical Examiner says the death of Jess Harl was a freshwater drowning and the manner of death was by accident.

Harl's body was recovered from Bonnefield Lake after the Batavia man became distressed by swimming with a young girl beyound the ropes at the beach.

Iowa law prevents the release of any additional information from the autopsy report.

Press release from Jefferson County Attorney Tim Dille

On July 13, 2012, Jesse Harl drowned at the Beach at Water Works Park.  An autopsy was performed by the Iowa Department of Public Health, Office of the State Medical Examiner on July 14, 2012.   The autopsy report has been completed and it was determined that the cause of death was freshwater drowning and the manner of death was by accident. 

Pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.7(41), no further information contained in that report will be made public as it is deemed a confidential record under Iowa law.