Royston Woman Drowns in Hudson River

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

A Royston woman is dead after trying to cross the Hudson River over the weekend.

It happened late Friday evening, according to Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas.

“Rescuers and first responders were dispatched along with the Sandy Cross and Bold Springs fire departments at 11p Friday to a Hudson Terrace Road address in the Royston area to search for a missing female,” Thomas said. “The water temperature was around 60 degrees with a water depth that exceeded 15 feet.”

Thomas said rescuers eventually found the body of 45-year old Melinda Kay Hart Dobbs in the river.  Witnesses told authorities Dobbs often crossed the river to see friends on the Madison County side of the river.

Dobbs’ body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsy where her death was ruled an accidental drowning.