Memphis, Tenn.–Shelby County Sheriff’s Office detectives have identified the three victims whose bodies were recovered yesterday on the Mississippi River: 28-year-old Marlon Mendez, 31-year-old Rudy Perez, and 52-year-old Jose Yanes. The three were reportedly fishing on the river.
This investigation is ongoing.
Rescue personnel have recovered three bodies from the Mississippi River, south of the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park boat ramp. These are presumably the three adult males who were reported missing Tuesday, July 22 in the Mississippi River, pending verification by next of kin.
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Dive team, Tipton Co. Fire Department, Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, MPD aviation, U.S. Coast Guard, Shelby County Fire, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency participated in the search along the Mississippi River.
The first two bodies were recovered at approximately 11:00 am and the third at about 12:45 pm. The official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner. This is an active, ongoing investigation.
A message from the Shelby County EMA:
“There are so many hazards in that water. Chiefly among them are submerged items, branches, sometimes debris, etc. to become entangled in. There are eddy currents that can pull an olympic swimmer under. You can be drawn into the channel and find yourself staring at a 24 unit barge that’s the size of a skyscraper on it’s side coming straight at you with no way for the barge crew to have any idea that you are there.
We are so proud of all of the professionals who risked their lives last night in that treacherous water to use their training to try to find these people. And while we continue to train for operations like this and how to work so well with other agencies in unity, we all hope to never have to go on even one more call like this one.
Please everyone… Stay out of that river!”
Shelby County EMA photo.