Body of VT. Man Recovered in Connecticut River
By Lorna
Colquhoun
Manchester Union Leader
April 5, 2011
LANCASTER, N.H. -- The body of a Vermont man was recovered from the Connecticut River, where he disappeared after his snowmobile went through thin ice on Sunday.Adam Debartolo, 28, of Perkinsville, Vt., was the subject of a search since early Monday. His body was recovered by New Hampshire Fish and Game Dive Team members at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday.
Debartolo was last seen "skimming" over open water on the Connecticut River in Lancaster under the Route 2 bridge with two other companions at 4:10 p.m. Sunday. He was briefly seen in the water struggling, but disappeared from view, and was presumed to have drowned. Snowmobile "skimming" is illegal in New Hampshire; Connecticut River waters fall under New Hampshire's jurisdiction.
The dive recovery effort of the N.H. Fish and Game Dive Team had many logistical issues to overcome -- a strong current and ice hampered the ability of the team to systematically search the river bottom.
Divers searched throughout the day Monday, unable to locate Debartolo, although searchers found a cell phone and a driver's license that were identified as belonging to him.