On March 13, 2018, at approximately 12:30 am Mr. Eric Perdue was walking back to his boat, which was docked in the Cape Charles Harbor when he fell overboard. Due to the air temperature, water temperature, and alcohol, this proved to be fatal for Mr. Perdue. Cape Charles Police recovered Mr. Perdue from the rip rap besides the boat ramps. No other information can be given, due to related active investigation. — Cape Charles Police.
Those are the facts, but how Mr. Perdue tragically wound up in the cold waters of the harbor that March night is still murky.
UPDATE: Other sources have come forward with more information. According to sources, Mr. Perdue had lunch at the Shanty, but he was later seen drinking at other establishments that evening, and not just at the Shanty as was originally reported here. The weather on the 13th was also blustery, with winds gusting near 30 knots out of the east.
Accounts forwarded to the Mirror confirm that Mr. Perdue was indeed intoxicated. He spent the evening drinking at the Shanty, and every so often would walk outside to check on his boat. At one point, we are told he paid his bill and left, only to return a few minutes later to again pay his bill. Sometime near closing, he left and went to the docks and stepped off into the water.
Toxicology and blood alcohol results have not been released, pending the investigation.
Jon Dempster says
April 22, 2018 at 11:18 pmWayne, this is flawed in many manners, and not the way it happened.
I wish you would reach out for a business owners thoughts or comments on such a sensitive topic prior to writing something accusational.
RICK says
April 23, 2018 at 8:29 amWhen are the town’s drinking establishments going to held responsible for their actions. Safety before tourism dollars .
Deborah Bender says
April 26, 2018 at 3:38 pmNEVER!
All of the bars are looking to make as much money as possible.
I know someone who was there the night of the drowning. To be honest it sounded like a suicide.
Very sad.
RICHARD M LEAL says
April 29, 2018 at 1:14 amSo once more where was the duty Police officer ? Obvious no Patrol By Police at Drinking establishments in Town .I think if officers were in contact with Bar owners and in formed of Intoxicated customers this would help solve this problem
Don Green says
April 30, 2018 at 3:42 amThe comments by so many Social Justice Warriors are hilarious–there’s no discussion of the importance of individual responsibility in this matter. Restaurants and the Cape Charles Police Department are not parents. The guy wasn’t even driving! Comments portray this hopeless drunk as a VICTIM, which he wasn’t. If you play the game (drinking excessively), you take your chances. This guy played it and he lost.
Rick West says
April 30, 2018 at 2:44 pmPolitical Correctness and Liberalism equal lies weakness.