State’s search for young drowning victim ends

ALASKA NEWSPAPERS STAFF
editor@alaskanewspapers.com

June 16, 2008 at 11:14AM AKST

Officials with the Alaska State Troopers said the state ended its effort Thursday to find the body of a 2-year old boy who earlier this month fell into the Kanektok River.

Other groups continue to search, state officials said. The case will remain open as a missing person’s case with a note that it is a suspected drowning and the body hasn’t been found.

According to troopers, the boy, whose identity isn’t being made public, was on a picnic with his parents June 1 when he fell into the Kanektok, about four miles north of Quinhagak. He wasn’t wearing a personal floatation device. No alcohol was involved.

State officials said about 100 individuals, including troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, local search and rescue groups and private citizens, assisted in the recovery effort.