Divers searched the waters of Hobart's Pond before recovering the body of a Whitman man Sunday. Photo by Stephanie Spyropoulos.

A disabled Gulf War veteran was found drowned in Hobart’s Pond in Whitman, on Sunday after a two-day search.

Sean Condon, 42, was a 1984 graduate of Whitman-Hanson High School and a Whitman resident.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, according to family members.

“He had just got out of the VA hospital and I talked to him on the cell phone,” said his mother, Meredith Condon. “He said he was fine and would walk because it was a nice night.  He was confirming reservations for Mother’s Day with the family.  He was telling me he was going to lunch with us the next day. I can’t say what happened.”

According to Condon, her son suffered chronic pain along with eye, leg, and lung problems.

“Sean was a Marine in the front lines during the Gulf War and he held his friend who died in his arms,” she said. “He has had a lot of trouble with those memories.”

According to Condon her eldest son Glenn died unexpectedly in their home just four months ago.  She said Sean had found his older brother and was devastated.

“He did not work but he would do everything to help his family.  He took care of his nephew who has special needs, and helped his other siblings.  He was a very loving man,” said Condon of her son.

“The investigation is ongoing but [the death] does not appear to be suspicious at this time,” Whitman Police Chief Christine May-Stafford said.

 The initial call reporting a suspicious male in the Colebrook Cemetery was received by Whitman Police at 7:06 Saturday evening, May 10. 

“Officers investigating the call found a backpack and clothing a short distance from Hobart’s Pond. Officers were informed by a Park Avenue resident that they had seen a male party swimming in Hobart’s Pond,” said Whitman police in a written statement.

“The resident stated that he had seen a male party in the middle of the pond.  He went inside to call for help and when he returned the party was missing.”

Whitman Fire Rescue was called to conduct a search and rescue with an inflatable deployment craft around 7:30 on Saturday evening, according to Chief Timothy Travers, of Whitman Fire/Rescue.

A search of the perimeter was conducted and the individuals personal belongings were located a short distance from the pond. Whitman Fire–Rescue responded under the command of Lieutenant Timothy Grenno to perform a search and possible rescue. The Plymouth County Technical Rescue Dive Team was called in after a drowning was suspected.

According to Travers, divers entered the water and performed a systematic grid search in depths ranging around 8’ of water. Specialized sonar equipment and underwater cameras were used to aid in the search, however, due to safety concerns the night time operation was suspended at midnight and resumed at 8 a.m. Sunday.

The Massachusetts State Air Wing performed an aerial search of the pond Sunday morning, but the water was too murky.

Divers from the Plymouth County Technical Rescue recovered Condon’s body shortly after10 a.m.

Whitman Police and State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office are currently investigating.

Meredith Condon does not believe her son committed suicide.

“I don’t think he would have done something intentional,” she said. “He has his medications changed at times and I think he may have had something to drink.  I know medications and alcohol should not be mixed.  I don’t think he knew what he was doing.  He has had a lot of problems over the past years.”

She said she has received many calls and e-mails of support from her son’s friends and classmates.

“With time to adjust maybe I will understand. He was a very outgoing kid.  Many people have reached out to us,” she said.