Body found in search for missing 13-year-old twin swimmers, Texas officials say

UPDATE: A body was found on Tuesday, March 7, in the search for 13-year-old twin brothers who went missing in Galveston Bay, according to media reports.

The body pulled out of the water at 2 a.m. matches the description of one of the missing children, but he has not been positively identified, according to KTRK.

Family members identified the missing boys as Jefferson and Josue Perez, KHOU reported.

KRIV reported the twins did not know how to swim.

The original story is below.

Twin 13-year-old brothers went missing on Sunday, March 5, while swimming in Galveston Bay, Texas officials say.

The boys were last seen around 4:30 p.m. near Pleasure Pier, according to KTRK. Their parents called 911 an hour later, Sgt. Austin Kirwin with the Galveston Island Beach Patrol said in a news briefing streamed by KHOU.

The parents last saw the boys in waist- or chest-deep water, but no one saw them go under, Kirwin said. They remained missing as of Sunday night.

Several agencies were involved in the search, including a U.S. Coast Guard team using a helicopter.

Beach patrol has not identified the missing children.

Kirwin said there is typically a lot of current in the water this time of year. He urged parents to watch their children “like a hawk” and for swimmers to avoid piers and jetties.

This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 7:36 AM.