SerpApi.Org
A chilling, possibly last image of the ill-fated group of five who drowned in the Scioto River in Ohio has emerged as more information about the tragic incident continues to emerge.
The image was taken by Marcus Martin, a frequent boater on the Ohio waterway who encountered the group before the fatal incident. The picture shows the five adults fishing in waist-deep water in the Scioto River, a sight that initially upset Martin.
“I believe the picture I took may have been the last picture of them being alive,” Martin said, adding that he felt uneasy upon encountering the group, considering the river is known for being treacherous.
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“I just remember being taught that area was kind of dangerous, in the sense of there being steep slopes,” and a quick drop-off into the river, Martin said.
The Baptist pastor said he was unsure why he took the picture as he was boating along. He recounted that he saw the adults in the water, and then when he returned two hours later, they were still there.
“I don’t know what it was. I said, I just need to capture this picture,” he said.
Martin recalled pondering whether to warn the group about the river's dangers, but ultimately decided against it because there were multiple boats between him and the group. He says that decision has been making him lose sleep, wondering whether he could have prevented the tragedy that would ensue moments later.
The image didn’t catch authorities’ initial interest
Delaware County Sheriff Jeffrey Balzer has said authorities believe one of the adults began struggling to swim over the weekend and the others successively went to that person’s aid. All five were swept under and died. The two women’s bodies were recovered Sunday and the three other bodies a day later.
Neither Balzer’s office nor the local EMS agency immediately verify the photo and those who appear in it.
perished Sunday; it’s rare to see people fishing or swimming in that stretch of the river. He said he attempted to share the picture with both law enforcement and a news reporter at the scene the day after the drownings, but no one seemed interested.
Honduran authorities confirmed Tuesday that four of the five adults were Honduran citizens. One was Jose Mario Pineda Dias, 33, another his wife Marina Suyapa Regalado, 28. Pineda was from the department of Lempira and Suyapa from the department of Cortés, according to Flabia Zamora, director of consular affairs at the Honduran Foreign Ministry.
The names of the other couple and the fifth individual would be released once their families could be notified of their deaths, a spokesperson for Balzer said Wednesday.
U.S. and Honduras are working together to identify victims
A Honduran embassy said the government is in contact with the victims’ families and assisting local authorities in verifying their identities. In a statement, it added that Honduras stands ready to repatriate any of the victims should relatives request that — a process that could take six weeks.
An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, children of one of the couples, were orphaned by the tragedy. A boy shouting for his mother was spotted by a passing driver on the day of the accident and reported to 911.
Scott Varner, a spokesman for Franklin County Children Services, said the youngsters have been in the agency’s care since Monday and that they are working with relatives and family friends in Columbus who are providing them with a temporary home. The children were provided with therapy dogs as they coped with the trauma, he said.
The Honduran embassy statement said the consulate has checked in with family members about their well-being and stands ready to help once relatives decide on the next steps for the children.
