Body of Missing Eddyville Man Recovered from Des Moines River Following Boating Accident
A Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office Press Release
On Friday, May 30, 2025, at approximately 2:15 pm, searchers located the body of a deceased male, believed to be that of 47-year-old Waylon Straube of Eddyville, in the Des Moines River ¼ mile south of the Chillicothe Bridge in Wapello County.
Mr. Straube went missing following a boating accident on Sunday, May 25 at approximately 9:50 am, when he was ejected from a boat that he was operating near 310th Street. A female companion, identified as Roseann Benda of Corydon, Iowa was also ejected from the boat during this accident. Shortly after the accident, Ms. Benda was rescued from the river with the help of two citizen boaters. With the help of other Public Safety Agencies, the Sheriff’s Office has been searching the river daily since the accident.
This male’s body will be transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa for positive identification and autopsy. The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the following agencies during this multi-day river search: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, the Emergency Management Agencies from ADLM, Wings of Mercy, Rapid Response Services Search and Rescue out of Illinois, National Canine Facility, Chariton Dive Team, Lucas County Water Rescue Team, Eldon Fire Department, Oskaloosa Fire Department, New Sharon Fire Department, and Eddyville Fire Department.
