Family Seeks Inspection After Man Drowns at Beaver Dam Club

Calls for Investigation into Beaver Dam Swimming Club After Drowning

The family of a 36-year-old swimmer who died at the Beaver Dam Swimming Club in Cockeysville last month is urging Baltimore County to conduct a thorough investigation of the facility and consider reevaluating its permit. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures at the popular summer spot, which has drawn swimmers for decades.

At a recent news conference in Towson, Thiru Vignarajah, an attorney representing Michael Randle’s family, emphasized the importance of ensuring public confidence in the facility’s safety protocols. “People know about Beaver Dam — they know it’s a quarry, they know there’s a rope swing, they know it’s a place where lots of kids and adults go each summer that they’re open,” he said. “As a matter of public concern, we think the public ought to be confident that this facility is doing everything it needs to keep its patrons safe.”

Randle’s body was recovered from the water two days after fire crews responded to the facility around 6 p.m. on August 17 following a report of a swimmer struggling in the water. The search involved divers, recovery dogs, and robotic devices before his body was located.

The Beaver Dam Swimming Club features two shallow pools as well as a freshwater quarry with an average depth of 40 feet. According to the club’s website, the facility has been a local attraction since the 1930s. However, the area has a history of incidents, including several drownings over the years.

Vignarajah stated that Randle’s family is not blaming any specific individual or entity but is instead asking the county’s permitting authorities to review and investigate the facility to determine where responsibility lies. The family is also requesting a comprehensive review of the swim club’s lifeguard staffing levels, certifications, rescue protocols, and other safety measures such as signs, depth markings, and life jacket policies.

In a letter sent to the Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services, Vignarajah outlined these concerns. This marks the first official communication between the family and the health department. Additionally, the attorney has requested that the swim club preserve evidence that may be relevant to future investigations.

“This family appreciates that this is a beloved hot spot for the summer. They don’t want to see a place that could be safe shut down, as long as it is safe,” Vignarajah said. “Our goal has never been to drive a popular swim club out of business, but you can’t have a facility that falls short.”

Under Baltimore County laws, operators of public swimming pools or bathing beaches, including quarries, are required to have a permit to operate their facilities. County standards for public bathing beaches indicate that swimming areas must be designed with specific “zones of responsibility” no larger than 3,500 square feet, with a minimum of one lifeguard per zone. Rescue equipment—such as a paddle board, mask, and swimming fins—must be provided for each active zone.

A spokesperson for the health department confirmed that an incident report is being reviewed but has not yet been authorized for public release.

The quarry has been the site of several drownings over the years. In 2000, Jamee Eben, a 24-year-old competitive swimmer, drowned after lifeguards responded too slowly to her cries for help. A Baltimore County jury later found the swim club negligent, resulting in a $760,000 settlement for her family. Previous reports also indicate that at least two other individuals’ bodies were found in the quarry in the years before Eben’s death.

In 2001, 20-year-old Frederick Elijah Kearse of Queen Anne’s County drowned while swimming in 60 feet of water. And in 2014, authorities recovered the body of 36-year-old Steve Curtis Jennings Jr., who was last seen near a diving board at the quarry before disappearing into the water.

The Beaver Dam Swimming Club is currently closed for the season and plans to reopen in late May 2026, according to its website.