Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies, Hamilton County EMS personnel, park rangers, and officers from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) responded to emergency dispatch calls reporting a possible drowning at Chester Frost Park along Chickamauga Lake on Friday afternoon, October 16, 2026. Emergency first responders located Donna Spino in the water and retrieved her to the shoreline. Emergency medical personnel conducted life-saving procedures, but Spino succumbed to respiratory and aquatic trauma injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Official Investigation and Administrative Status
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office detectives and forensic investigators secured the shoreline area to gather physical evidence, review park surveillance footage, and document scene conditions. Authorities confirmed that the exact sequence of events leading up to Spino entering the water remains under active investigation by law enforcement detectives and park officials. Official vital statistics registrations, forensic determinations, and final cause of death rulings are being finalized under the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Tennessee Department of Health.
Tributes and Memorial Announcements
News of Spino’s death brought deep sorrow to family members, friends, and neighbors throughout Hamilton County. Loved ones remembered her for her warmth, kindness, and deep connections to her family and local community. Formal announcements regarding public visitations, chapel funeral services, and memorial arrangements will be published by authorized family representatives once finalized.
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