EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police and Fire Departments have identified the two male kayakers found dead Friday, July 5, at the Omega Pond off Roger Williams Avenue in the Rumford section of the city.

The  deceased are 52-year-old Joseph Fritz of East Providence and 37-year-old Gregory Boerman of Allston, Massachusetts.

EPPD Captain Michael J. Rapoza, Operations Division Commander/Public Information Officer, said Saturday, July 6, the incident remains under investigation
by detectives and the state medical examiner. The deaths do not appear suspicious at this time.

The EPPD and EPFD were notified early Friday morning that two adult males did not return home after kayaking late Thursday night, July 4.

The reporting party told investigators that the two males went kayaking on Omega Pond and had not heard from them since.

Officers and firefighters began searching the shoreline and used drone technology to locate one body just below the surface of the water a short distance from where two empty kayaks were found. A short time later, a second body was discovered.

East Providence Fire Department marine units provided marine search operations. The Office of the State Medical Examiners was on scene to take custody of the deceased.

Marine units and dive teams from Rhode Island State Police and Department of Environmental
Management also assisted with the search.