By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The body of a 31-year-old Roseville woman who fell into Lake St. Clair July 13 has been located by an aerial search crew, according to Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel.

Hackel said the body of Kelly Marie Goulet was found just before noon July 17 on the water’s surface in the same shipping channel where she disappeared approximately six miles off the shoreline in St. Clair Shores.

“The cause of death appears to be through drowning,” Hackel said. “We’re waiting for toxicology reports. There doesn’t appear to be physical signs of foul play.”

Goulet accidentally fell overboard her boyfriend’s boat at approximately 7:45 p.m. that Sunday.

Goulet’s boyfriend, Brian Donald Bugaiski, 34, of Roseville, was operating the boat, which was stationary at the time Goulet fell overboard.

“He dove into the water to get her, but he couldn’t find her,” Hackel said.

Bugaiski contacted 911, but had a difficult time relaying information while anchoring the boat, according to officials.

Hackel said alcohol appears to be a factor in the incident.

When officials arrived at the boat they found Bugaiski unconscious and a third individual, a female from Macomb County. The woman was also unconscious and barely breathing as a result of substance abuse, officials said. She was taken to St. John Hospital for treatment. The woman, whose identity is being withheld, was released the morning of July 14.

Bugaiski was arrested that night for operating a boat while intoxicated and was released several hours later. Further charges are pending as sheriff’s officials wait warrant authorization.

Authorities report that the three had traveled from a marina in the Nine Mile and Jefferson area to Muscamoot Bay for a pleasure cruise on Bugaiski’s 31-foot Uniflite. The incident occurred in the shipping channel where the Detroit River and St. Clair River meet.

Goulet was not wearing a life vest.

Hackel said divers used the boater’s GPS system to locate the exact coordinates where Goulet fell overboard.

Macomb County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division, the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Marine Division and the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Clair Shores had difficulty locating the body as Goulet fell into a shipping channel that is about 40 feet deep. The rest of the lake is between 17 and 20 feet, Hackel said.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1039.