MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) – A search for three missing men in Shelby County, Tennessee, ended tragically at Meeman-Shelby State Park.
The fatal Mississippi River drowning incident involving three individuals concluded Wednesday when rescue teams located the bodies.
Three men went missing Tuesday while swimming and fishing along the Mississippi River according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The authorities confirmed the recovery of the three bodies on Wednesday morning near a boat ramp. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 28-year-old Marlon Mendez, 31-year-old Rudy Perez, and 52-year-old Jose Yanes.
Multiple agencies joined forces for the search and recovery operation, including the Shelby County Search and Rescue team and the United States Coast Guard.
Shelby County Sheriff’s public information officer, John Morris, stated that two bodies were recovered by approximately 11 a.m., with the third found at 12:45 p.m.
The families of the three deceased men faced a difficult morning, with a gathering of family and friends watching the search efforts along the Mississippi River banks.
Family members of Jose Yanes reported he was fishing with his companions on the river. They noted he has six children, with the youngest being 12 years old.
A local business owner, Doug Ammons, who operates a store near the river, commented on the frequency of such incidents. He described the tragedy as horrific and expressed understanding for how these events occur.
Ammons strongly advises people to avoid the Mississippi River, describing it as lethally dangerous. He stressed the high probability of losing a direct confrontation with the river, especially without proper flotation devices.
The Shelby County authorities mentioned that the medical examiner is continuing to investigate to determine the specific cause of death for each individual.
