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Jillian Olson

Gender : Female

Age : 29

Race : White

Date : 07/30/2026

Location : Lake Murray

City : Lexington

County : Lexington

State : South Carolina

Agency : Lexington County Sheriff's Department

Cause of Death : Drowned

Event : drowned during training exercise

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 07/30/2026, Master Deputy Jillian Olson, 29, died during an underwater training exercise with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department Dive Team at Lake Murray. Emergency responders were dispatched to the training location after Olson experienced a medical emergency during the exercise. She was recovered from the water but could not be revived.

Olson joined the Lexington County Sheriff's Department in 2021 and became a member of the department's dive team in 2024. At the time of her death, she served as a Master Deputy assigned to the Warrant Division. During her career she received multiple commendations, including being named the department's Outstanding Judicial Services Deputy of the Year in 2023. Sheriff Jay Koon described Olson as a deputy who consistently volunteered for difficult assignments and served without seeking recognition.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation into the training death with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). The Lexington County Coroner's Office is conducting the death investigation and will determine the official cause and manner of death following examination and review of the circumstances surrounding the underwater exercise. Authorities have not released details describing what occurred beneath the water during the training session.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.police1.com/officer-down/s-c-dive-team-officer-dies-during-underwater-training
https://www.wbtv.com/2026/07/31/deputy-dies-during-training-exercise-south-carolina-sheriff-says/