The body of a man missing since Sunday in the Red River was recovered Monday with help from local fishermen.
"It was an unfortunate ending, but at least the family has some closure," said volunteer Thomas Whitehead. Whitehead and Roland Wommack located the body of Charlie Marshall Monday afternoon.
Marshall, 48, had been missing since Sunday. Marshall and a woman had put a boat in the river Sunday afternoon at the Index Bridge on U.S. Highway 71 north of Texarkana when the boat began taking in water. The woman was able to swim to safety but Marshall was lost in the river.
The Office of Emergency Management, Miller County Sheriffs Deputies, Miller County Volunteer Fire Department and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began to search Sunday afternoon. Little River County Office of Emergency Management and Texas Fish and Game assisted using sonar to scan the river. The search was suspended due to darkness but resumed Monday.
Marshall's body was found about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Miller County Emergency Management Director Joe Bennett said he wished to acknowledge all the search and rescue teams from Miller County, Little River County AGFC, Texas Fish and Wildlife and private citizens who spent many hours searching over the two days.
"A special thanks to Mr. Thomas Whitehead who located the victim. We appreciate his dedication," Bennett said. "We offer our sincere condolences to the family."
Whitehead had heard about the search and stopped at the location Monday to see if they could use his help.
"I knew the general area," he said. "I'm on the river all the time."
Coincidentally, Whitehead recognized a photo of Marshall's boat and realized he had helped them before.
"Two weeks ago I was out on my boat near Garland City and they were out there having some engine trouble. I towed them back to land," he said.
Whitehead and Wommack put Whitehead's boat in the river Monday afternoon, hoping two fresh pairs of eyes might help the search
"I eased down the river looking, I had only been out there a few minutes when I saw him. I'm glad I was there, for the family's sake," he said.