Staff report
Montezuma, Ind. – July 3, 2023
Indiana Conservation Officers are currently conducting an investigation after the body of a 15-year-old juvenile was recovered early this morning from the Wabash River, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
The incident occurred yesterday while a group of juveniles were wading and swimming in the Wabash River north of Montezuma. At 7:23 p.m., Parke County 911 received a distress call reporting that a juvenile male had gone missing in the water.
Indiana Conservation Officers initiated search and rescue operations, aided by witness statements that helped narrow down the search area. Officers deployed divers and sonar technology to scour the river, ultimately locating and retrieving the victim at 12:30 a.m. this morning. The recovery took place at a depth of 7 feet of water.
An autopsy has already been conducted, and preliminary results indicate that the cause of death was consistent with drowning.
Assisting the Indiana Conservation Officers in this operation were personnel from the Clinton Fire Department Water Rescue Team, Parke County Sheriff’s Department, Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department, and Parke County EMS.
