Massachusetts and Rhode Island men identified in fatal East Providence kayaking incident

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – East Providence police and fire department were notified early Friday morning that two adult males did not return home after kayaking late Thursday night.

The reporting party told investigators that the two males went kayaking on Omega Pond just off Roger Williams Avenue and had not heard from them since.

Officers and firefighters began searching the shoreline and used drone technology to locate one body just below the surface of the water a short distance from where two empty kayaks were found. A short time later, a second body was discovered. 

East Providence Fire Department marine units provided marine search operations. The Office of the State Medical Examiners was on scene to take custody of the deceased. 

Marine units and dive teams from Rhode Island State Police and Department of Environmental Management also assisted with the search. 

The two deceased males were identified as 52-year-old Joseph Fritz of East Providence and 37- year-old Gregory Boerman of Allston, Massachusetts.

Boerman was being remembered as a great person who was fun to be around.

Fritz was known as someone who could not be forgotten.

The incident remains under investigation by detectives and the state medical examiner. The deaths do not appear suspicious at this time.