Second body of men who drowned recovered from Trinity River in Dallas, officials say
A second body was recovered Friday night in the area where two young men fell into the Trinity River on Easter Sunday, officials said.
The body of 21-year-old Juan Ruben Chel Botzoc was recovered Thursday around 3:30 p.m. about 100 yards south of a small dam, according to KXAS-TV. The second body, believed to be 18-year-old Edin Oswaldo Yat Choc, was found shortly before 10 p.m. Friday about a quarter mile from the spillway, KXAS-TV reported. The medical examiner hadn’t identified the body yet.
Chel Botzoc and Yat Choc, both immigrants from Guatemala, were having a cookout at the California Crossing Park on Easter Sunday. One of them got caught in the current when trying to recover part of a grill that had fallen into the water, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. His friend tried to help him, and went underwater too.
Chel Botzoc’s father, Alfredo Chel, told KXTX-TV that he was working with the Guatemalan consulate to send his son’s body back to Guatemala.
Dallas Fire-Rescue helped search for the men Easter Sunday, but spokesperson Jason Evans said on April 10 that DFR search efforts would not resume.
“The men are believed to be dead, and the most likely case is that the bodies will resurface on their own, at which point we will be asked to help get them from the water,” Evans said.
The Dallas Police Department took over the search as it moved into the recovery phase, according to WFAA. Dallas Police Executive Assistant Chief Albert Martinez said drones, helicopters, boats and the dive team had searched two miles down river. Cadaver dogs were brought in Wednesday to help, WFAA reported.
Police said divers couldn’t enter the water Monday and Wednesday to search because the water was moving too fast, KDFW-TV reported. Search crews returned Thursday and Friday.
Rebecca Sosa and Kendra Jimenez were volunteering their time to translate for the men’s families.
“You just want them to get their children back and have that peace of mind,” Sosa told WFAA.
Jimenez said the father of one of the victims had been sleeping at the park every night.
“He won’t leave until they find the body,” she told WFAA.
This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 2:47 PM.
