Coroner releases ID of man who drowned in Troy pond

Officials have released the name of the man who drowned Wednesday in a race with a friend across a Madison County pond.

Richard A. Brown, 46, of Collinsville was pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday evening after his body was recovered from a private pond near 33 Troy-O’Fallon Road in Troy.

Guest book for Richard A. Brown

Brown had made what Madison County Sheriff John Lakin called “a gentlemen’s bet” to swim across the pond, but while the friend made it across, Brown went under water. A call was made to 911, and two hours of searching resulted in the discovery of his body.

Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn said that an autopsy was planned for Thursday morning along with routine toxicology testing.

The incident took place while several people had been at the home, but Brown’s relationship to them or to the man he raced across the pond was not released. Funeral arrangements are pending.

This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Coroner releases ID of man who drowned in Troy pond."