Former White House Chef Drowns on Martha’s Vineyard – Details

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To bring you up to date:

The body of a 43-year-old black man was found after emergency crews were dispatched to former President Barack Obama’s $12 million Martha’s Vineyard estate.

Massachusetts State Police divers recovered the body of a 45 year-old man who had gone missing while paddleboarding in Edgartown Great Pond Sunday. 

The deceased has been identified as Virginia resident Tafari Campbell, husband, father of two, and personal chef to the Obama family. Campbell — who also leaves behind two sons — was a sous chef at the White House during Obama’s terms in office, where he was known for brewing beer using honey from Michelle Obama’s bees.

He was found roughly 100 feet from shore in eight-foot-deep waters close to 79 Turkeyland Cove Road, the Obama’s estate. He is known to have been a strong swimmer as seen in the video above. The authorities immediately stated that even strong swimmers can drown in still waters, and that no foul play is suspected.

In a statement the Massachusetts State Police said: ‘The investigation into the death of Tafari Campbell, 45, of Virginia, who was recovered from Edgartown Great Pond on Monday, as well as an initial post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, found no evidence that the death was suspicious.

‘The on-scene observation of the victim by State Police personnel and the post-mortem examination by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner revealed no external trauma or injuries.

The person who was paddleboarding with the Obamas’ personal chef when he drowned near their Martha’s Vineyard estate had tried desperately to save him, according to officials.

The unidentified fellow paddleboarder, who saw Campbell losing his balance, tried to swim to Tafari Campbell, 45, but “did not reach him in time,” (no idea what this means~Kelly) Massachusetts State Police said in a statement, MassLive reported. This person swam to shore and raised the alarm.

The drowning took place not far from former President Barack Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard estate.

A witness saw Campbell — who was not wearing a life jacket and wasn’t tethered to the board — struggling to stay afloat in his final moments, officials said. New York Post. The witness, who was also paddle boarding, saw the drowning but has not been identified and the police logs are blank for this witness.

The other paddle boarder swam to shore and notified a person on shore of what had happened.

‘That person placed a 911 call to the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center, which initiated an immediate emergency search and rescue response by numerous public safety agencies.”

The Martha’s Vineyard local paper MVTimes on June 24 said this:

Campbell had been visiting the Island at the time of his passing. Barack and Michelle Obama were not at the residence at the time of the incident, state police say.

Apparently the state police were wrong; or their report to the press was incorrect. In a carefully worded statement his office now admits he was on Martha’s Vineyard but not ‘at home’ when Tafari Campbell drowned. His daughters, Malia and Sasha, who were staying on the island left before Tafari Campbell’s body was discovered. Social Media indicates that they had been in the water with him during their stay on the island.

The Massachusetts State Police also say that investigation and autopsy reveal no evidence that the death of Obama’s personal chef was suspicious. There is talk that the Obama’s requested a medical examiner from DC rather than the local ME. Police claim that the autopsy revealed no external trauma or injuries. Toxicity results will take longer to come back, apparently.

Like a coincidence?