HABERSHAM COUNTY, GA. (THECOUNT) — Reginald Starks, a 19-year-old Texas Southern University student, has been identified as the victim of a Sunday drowning incident at Panther Creek Falls in Habersham County.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, game wardens responded to a reported drowning at Panther Creek Falls at approximately 4 p.m. Sunday.
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Officials said Habersham County deputies located Starks in the water and recovered his remains from an area approximately 12 feet deep near the falls.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as “Reginal Starks,” though officials noted that spelling details were not fully confirmed at the time of the initial release.
The incident occurred at Panther Creek Falls, a well-known natural recreation area in Habersham County, located in the northeastern region of Georgia. The site is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is frequently visited by hikers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts due to its waterfall system and surrounding forest trails.
Panther Creek Falls is a multi-tier waterfall system that flows through rugged terrain in the North Georgia mountains. The area is known for steep trails, rocky outcroppings, and swimming areas formed along the creek, which can include deep pools and rapidly changing water conditions depending on rainfall and seasonal flow.
Habersham County is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes a mix of rural communities, forested land, and recreational areas managed in part by federal and state agencies. Outdoor locations such as Panther Creek Falls are subject to variable conditions that can include uneven footing, submerged hazards, and strong currents in certain sections of the creek system.
Authorities said the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, along with Habersham County deputies, responded to the scene following the initial report of the drowning. Recovery efforts were conducted in coordination with local law enforcement and game wardens assigned to the region.
Starks was a resident of Jonesboro, Georgia, a city located in Clayton County within the Atlanta metropolitan area. Jonesboro is situated approximately 70 miles south of Habersham County and is part of a densely populated suburban region in north-central Georgia.
Starks was also described in reports as a rising sophomore trombonist with the Ocean of Soul marching band at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. University affiliation details were not part of the official law enforcement release.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Department of Natural Resources continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the drowning. Officials have not released additional details regarding how the incident occurred prior to recovery efforts.
Authorities have not indicated whether additional individuals were present at the time of the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Crash location: Google Maps
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