August 31, 2013 Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery released the following:
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, Game & Fish, Corps of Engineers, Salesville Fire Dept, Tracy Fire Dept, Gamaliel Fire Dept are currently engaged in a recovery operation on Lake Norfork after a reported drowning.
At approximately 3:23 pm, 911 received a call from a passing boater who had been flagged down by a man on a pontoon boat asking him to call 911. The man stated his girlfriend jumped into the water from the pontoon boat while it was moving. The man stated she became distressed and he jumped in to help but she went under and never re-surfaced.
The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office is using sonar and underwater cameras in the search for the body. The area is approximately ½ mile north of the Quarry Marina. The depth of the water is approximately 50 ft.
The victim is a 45-year old female from the Jonesboro, Arkansas are. The name is being withheld at this time.
Sheriff John Montgomery
Baxter County Sheriff’s Office