Tragic Drowning of New Mother Jerri MacMeekin During Fourth of July Boat Party
Jerri MacMeekin, a new mother, tragically drowned during a Fourth of July boat party in Lake Conroe, Texas. Her death has left her family and community in mourning. Read about the incident and its aftermath.
Bollywood Fever: A tragic incident marred the Fourth of July celebrations in Lake Conroe, Texas, when 24-year-old Jerri MacMeekin, a new mother, drowned after falling overboard during a boat party. The accident occurred around 9 PM on Thursday, with MacMeekin’s body being recovered approximately two hours later.
Jerri MacMeekin, a senior estimator and portfolio manager at Paragon Services & BKB Construction in Houston since 2015, was found floating in the waters of Lake Conroe around 11:30 PM. Her brother-in-law, Kyle Dean MacMeekin, 29, and his friend, Shane Everett Anniboli, 44, dived in to rescue her along with another woman, but were unable to find her. Both men were piloting two different boats next to each other at the time of the incident and were later arrested and charged with boating while intoxicated.
MacMeekin was married to Brandon MacMeekin, 32, in January 2021. They had welcomed their baby girl, Georgia Grace MacMeekin, in December 2023. Jerri had shared her excitement about becoming a mother on social media, writing, “Our sweet rainbow baby is making its debut into the world December 2023! Truly the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for!”
Brandon’s and Kyle’s mother, Sharon MacMeekin, expressed her joy at having a granddaughter, sharing photos of Georgia Grace and writing, “I am just a puddle, she is perfect. Thank you Brandon and Jerri MacMeekin for making me a Shannie. I finally got my little girl.”
On the night of the tragedy, Jerri fell overboard from a pontoon boat around 9 PM and never resurfaced. Anniboli and MacMeekin immediately jumped in to save her but were hindered by the darkness and the conditions of the water. Another woman who also dived in to help managed to swim to safety and was found on a dock about an hour later.
Montgomery County marine police arrived at the scene and continued the search with side-scan sonar. Divers from the North Montgomery County Fire Department recovered Jerri’s body around 11 PM.
Anniboli and MacMeekin were arrested by Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens and charged with boating while intoxicated. They were held overnight without bail at the Montgomery County Jail, with MacMeekin being released on Friday night on a $3,000 bail and Anniboli on a $1,000 bond.
The incident has prompted a reminder from authorities about the importance of safety measures while boating. Captain Miguel Rosario of the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office advised, “We never enjoy pulling people out of the water, especially on a holiday weekend when you’re supposed to be having fun, enjoying time with your family. All the divers I know, they’ve never pulled anybody out of the water that’s been wearing a life jacket.”
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported that 172 people were arrested for boating while intoxicated in 2023, with 56 of those arrests occurring over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Rosario emphasized the need for responsible drinking and the importance of life jackets, saying, “Drink responsibly. Be sensible. Be safe. Have a designated driver… If you’re drinking, put on your life jacket just in case you accidentally fall overboard.”
The loss of Jerri MacMeekin has left her family and community in mourning, as they remember her as a loving mother, wife, and friend who brought joy to those around her.
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