Lauren Agee: The Mysterious Death at WakeFest

In July 2015, 21-year-old Lauren Agee traveled to Center Hill Lake in Tennessee for a weekend wakeboarding event known as WakeFest. Thousands of young people attended the festival each summer to camp, watch professional wakeboarders, and enjoy time on the lake.

What was supposed to be a carefree summer weekend with friends ended in tragedy. On July 26, 2015, Lauren’s body was discovered floating in the water below a cliffside campsite. Authorities ruled her death an accidental fall, but Lauren’s family and independent investigators believe the evidence raises serious questions.

Nearly a decade later, the mysterious death of Lauren Agee remains one of Tennessee’s most debated cases.

A Summer Weekend at WakeFest

WakeFest is an annual wakeboarding event held near Smithville, Tennessee, at Center Hill Lake. The festival draws large crowds of young people each summer who camp near the lake, socialize, and watch wakeboarding competitions.

In July 2015, Lauren Agee attended WakeFest with her longtime friend Hannah Palmer. According to reports, Lauren believed the trip would be a girls’ weekend, but when they arrived she learned that Hannah’s boyfriend, Aaron Lilly, and his friend Christopher Stout would also be joining them.

Instead of staying in a cabin, the group set up a makeshift campsite on a cliff overlooking the lake. The location was only accessible by canoe, and reaching the campsite required climbing a 90-foot cliff using a rope.

The campsite included a single tent and a hammock that was tied between two trees near the edge of the cliff.

Who Was Lauren Agee?

Lauren Agee was born on August 19, 1993, in Biloxi, Mississippi, and later lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee with her mother, stepfather, and siblings.

Friends and family described Lauren as energetic, athletic, and kind. She loved to dance and had even received a dance scholarship before choosing to pursue criminal justice in college.

At the time of her death, Lauren was 21 years old and in a serious relationship with her boyfriend. Her family said she had a bright future ahead of her.

The Cliffside Campsite

The group’s campsite quickly became a central focus of the investigation.

To reach the location, campers had to canoe across the lake and climb the steep cliff using a rope. The area was not an official WakeFest campsite and lacked safety barriers or supervision.

Lauren was reportedly assigned to sleep in the hammock with Christopher Stout, while Hannah Palmer and Aaron Lilly slept in the tent.

The hammock was positioned only a few feet from the cliff’s edge, suspended approximately 90 feet above the lake below.

The Night Before Lauren Disappeared

On Saturday, July 25, the group spent the day watching wakeboarders, drinking alcohol, and cliff diving into the lake.

During one dive, Lauren reportedly struck her head on a rock. Although she briefly lost consciousness, she chose not to seek medical attention and continued participating in activities.

Later that night, the group went to a nearby bar before returning to the campsite around 2:00 a.m.

According to witness accounts, Lauren was intoxicated when she returned to the campsite.

Lauren Goes Missing

The following morning, Hannah Palmer said she woke up and noticed that Lauren was no longer at the campsite. Lauren’s belongings — including her phone, purse, wallet, and shoes — were still there.

Despite realizing Lauren was missing, the group reportedly did not notify authorities. Instead, they continued attending the final day of WakeFest.

Several hours later, around 4:30 p.m. on July 26, fishermen on the lake spotted a body floating in the water near the cliffs.

The body was identified as Lauren Agee.

The Official Cause of Death

An autopsy later determined Lauren’s cause of death to be blunt force trauma with possible drowning. Her blood alcohol level was reportedly twice the legal limit.

Authorities concluded that Lauren likely fell from the hammock, struck her head on the cliff during the fall, and then drowned in the lake.

Her death was officially ruled an accident, and the case was closed.

Questions About the Forensic Evidence

Lauren’s family has strongly challenged the conclusion that her death was accidental.

One of the most controversial findings in the autopsy report was that no water was found in Lauren’s lungs, which some experts say could indicate she did not drown.

Her family has also pointed to:

• Alleged hemorrhaging on her neck
• Injuries that some experts believe were inconsistent with a fall
• Claims that her body showed signs of being dragged
• The location where her body was found, which some experts say does not match the water currents

Independent investigators hired by the family believe Lauren may have died before entering the water.

Concerns About the Investigation

Lauren’s family has also raised concerns about how the investigation was handled.

According to reports:

• Only a short paragraph of investigative notes was documented
• No sexual assault kit was performed
• No additional DNA testing was conducted
• Some of Lauren’s belongings were reportedly lost

These issues have fueled criticism that the investigation was not thorough enough.

The Civil Lawsuit

In 2016, Lauren’s mother, Sherry Smith, filed a $10 million wrongful death lawsuit against Hannah Palmer, Aaron Lilly, and Christopher Stout.

The lawsuit alleged that Lauren’s friends either caused her death or attempted to cover up what happened.

The case was later dismissed due to insufficient evidence, although appeals have continued in the years since.

Theories About What Happened

There are several theories surrounding Lauren Agee’s death.

Some believe the official explanation is correct — that Lauren fell from the hammock while intoxicated and tragically died from her injuries.

Others believe the forensic evidence suggests something more sinister may have occurred, including the possibility that Lauren was assaulted or killed before being placed in the water.

Because the case was ruled an accident, no criminal charges have ever been filed.

Where the Case Stands Today

As of today, the death of Lauren Agee remains officially classified as an accidental fall.

However, Lauren’s family continues to push for the case to be reconsidered as a homicide. They believe the forensic evidence and unanswered questions deserve further investigation.

Nearly ten years later, many people still wonder what truly happened on that cliff above Center Hill Lake.

Was Lauren Agee’s death a tragic accident, or is there more to the story?