Teen Prom King, 17, passes away only an hour after being reported missing
Tragedy at Rathbun Lake
Earlier this summer, Appanoose County, Iowa, faced a heartbreaking loss. Seventeen-year-old Ayden Beeson, a high school student and recently crowned Prom King, disappeared while swimming on June 26, 2024. Just an hour after being reported missing, rescuers recovered him from the water.
Immediate Response
The Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office acted swiftly. A 911 caller had reported a possible drowning at Rathbun Lake. Sheriff’s deputies teamed up with the Appanoose County Water Rescue unit, searching tirelessly. Sadly, the rescue ended in tragedy. Ayden’s body was recovered from 15 to 20 feet of water, and he was pronounced d**d at the scene.
A Beloved Student
Ayden was widely admired in the Centerville School District. A football team leader and accomplished tennis player, he had been voted Prom King prior to graduation. His kindness and warmth touched everyone around him.
“Such a great kid lost in the prime of his life is devastating for our community, for his family, and for the lives he was going to impact,” said Superintendent Mark Taylor. “He was kind to everyone. There wasn’t a single person he couldn’t be nice to.”
The police had to rush to a tragic scene during a workday only to find an unconscious high school child. Sadly, the boy couldn’t be saved, and a mystery surrounds his death. He was the current reigning Prom King, an athlete, and much loved by the community.
Unexplained circumstances have led to the death of a teenage boy who was loved and cherished by his community. Some people close to the boy have since penned touching tributes.
On June 26, 2024, the Appanoose County Sheriff released an immediate press release. The Appanoose County Law Center revealed that at around 6:13 p.m., the officers had received a 911 call. The person calling reported a possible drowning at Rathbun Lake near the Buck Creek swimming beach.
Ayden Beeson, 17 years old, went under the water’s surface and never came back up. The County Sheriff’s Office met up with the Appanoose County Water Rescue team to try and find the teenager who’d gone under.
The Water Rescue team recovered Beeson’s body at around 7:33 p.m. in 15 to 20 feet of water. The Appanoose County Medical Examiner’s Office pronounced the young swimmer dead at the scene. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting the Appanoose County Sheriff’s Office in investigating the case.
It was reported that the juvenile was an important part of the Centerville School District. According to Superintendent Mark Taylor, the late teenager was a leader on the football field and in his school’s hallways.
Beeson also played tennis and was voted Prom King before his spring graduation. Taylor noted how devastating it was for the community, the boy’s family, and those whose lives he was still going to touch, to have lost such a “great kid” in his prime.
The Superintendent added how nice and kind Beeson was to everyone and that he was popular. Taylor explained that he got acquainted with the late teenager due to him working for the school district during the summers.
On June 28, 2024, the school district allowed community members to come to pay their respects to Beeson. Darcie Whitlow, a Great Prairie Education Agency crisis response counselor, was at the school days after the tragic accident.
Whitlow revealed that having counselors available during mourning was key to the process. The counselor said it was good for those affected to have someone to talk to who isn’t trying to solve their issues. Someone who is just there to support and help during this difficult time.
According to Taylor, southeast Iowa was sending an amazing outpouring of support. Neighborhood schools were wearing black and red, Centerville’s school colors, to show support. The Superintendent said there were small-town rivalries on the football and baseball fields. But when a loss occurred in a community, they joined together.
The day after Beeson’s death, his coach, Tyler Baze, put up a touching Facebook post. Alongside throwback images, Baze revealed that it was an honor to coach the late teenager. The coach shared how the juvenile wasn’t afraid of hard work.
Baze said Beeson was the only Big Red Tennis player “in the modern era to place in the top 6 in conference all four years of high school.” Yet, the coach noted how besides being a great athlete, Beeson’s greatest quality was that he was himself.
Baze also revealed that the high school student was the one every coach and teacher loved. He was described as passionate and kind and gave everything he had in him on the field, court, or classroom.