Sheriff David P. Bartlett reports that on July 09, 2021 at about 7:39pm, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to 90 Overshot Mills Rd. in the Town of Claverack, along with fire and rescue personnel for a report of a possible drowning.

The original report indicated that a man was observed in a pond, and went underwater, and had not resurfaced. Responding police, fire and rescue units were able to speak to several witnesses at the scene who reported that the victim, 28 year old Claudio A. Teopante, of Queens, New York was using an inflatable mattress as a make shift float on a small pond on this property. The witnesses report that Teopante fell off of the float and began to struggle, before he went underwater. Witnesses attempted to render aid to Teopante, but were unsuccessful, and Columbia County 911 was contacted.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Churchtown Fire Department, Livingston Fire Department with their boat, Greenport Rescue Squad Water Rescue Team, Hudson Fire Department Dive Team, Athens Fire Department Dive Team, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. At about 8:58pm, divers were able to locate and recover the body of Teopante.

Investigating for the Sheriff’s Office were Sheriff David P. Bartlett, Captain Louis Bray, Senior Investigator William Foster, Investigator Joshua Oakes, Sergeant Peter Grzeskow, Deputies Matthew Leonard, Brian McSween, and the members of the Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.