Lexington County Deputy Dies During Lake Murray Dive Training Exercise

Jillian Olson, a 29-year-old master deputy in the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, was killed while participating in a routine dive training session on Lake Murray, a large reservoir near Columbia. Olson had joined the department in 2021, earned a promotion to master deputy in the warrants division in 2025, and served on the dive team since 2024, accumulating more than 100 hours underwater. Recovery operations were coordinated by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ Investigations Unit and Aquatics Investigation and Recovery team, with support from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, while the Lexington County Coroner’s Office opened an investigation into her death.

Sheriff Jay Koon highlighted Olson’s commitment, describing her dive team involvement as an example of her going above and beyond, and noted she was slated to receive a five-year honorable service award next month. Friends recalled her strong Christian faith and love for Lake Murray, where she also enjoyed kayaking and paddle-boarding. A memorial was held outside the sheriff’s office, and Olson will be buried on Wednesday.