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Monroe woman's body found after reportedly leaping from pontoon boat

LAKE WATEREE, S.C. — Investigators are trying to figure out what led to the death of a Union County woman whose body was pulled from a South Carolina lake on Tuesday.

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The Kershaw County Coroner’s Office identified the woman as 22-year-old Krista Lee Philemon, of Monroe.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Philemon’s body was found just before 7 a.m. near Jutty Point.

Emergency crews were called to the lake Sunday night after Philemon reportedly jumped off a pontoon boat and never resurfaced. The boat, which was carrying several people, was drifting, according to the DNR.

"She was really nice and always doing stuff around the school,” former classmate Kole Vonegidy said.

Vonegidy went to Piedmont High where Philemon graduated at the top of her class.

(Philemon)

Family members said she loved painting and recently founded the nonprofit Painting with a Purpose, which raised hundreds of dollars to help local charities.

DNR officials said Philemon was not wearing a life jacket when her body was found. They do not suspect foul play.

Officials with Kershaw County Fire Services, the Kershaw County Emergency Management Services, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and Fairfield County Fire Rescue were on hand to help with the search.

The coroner confirmed the cause of death was drowning.