ENID LAKE — Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphreys reported that the body of a missing Tallahatchie County man was recovered by divers here at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, May 29.
The recovery was made on the fourth day of an intensive search that started late Saturday afternoon (May 26) after 42-year-old Ismael Alvarez of the Teasdale community was reported missing and feared drowned. Alvarez was swimming with friends near the levee when he went under.
Humphreys said the body was found by sonar in 44 feet of water at the location where Alvarez was last seen.
“We had made dozens and dozens of passes over and around the area during the four-day search,” Humphreys said, adding that the body likely shifted enough to make it visible on the sonar.
“We are very thankful to have closure for the family,” the sheriff added.
The search included multiple boats equipped with sonar, divers, a cadaver dog and a helicopter. The sheriff stressed the hard work and long hours by officials from multiple agencies were vital to the search.
“Yalobusha EMA and sheriff’s department would like to extend our gratitude to everybody that assisted: the Panola County EMA; Panola County Search and Rescue; Tallahatchie County EMA; Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Yalobusha Search and Rescue Team and a helicopter from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department,” Humphreys said.
“A lot of the guys that have been out here working long hours are volunteers, both firemen and members of the search and rescue and dive teams from Yalobusha, Panola and Tallahatchie counties. These guys are missing work at their regular jobs and I cannot stress how critical they are in an operation like this,” the sheriff added.
Yalobusha County Coroner Ronnie Stark told the Herald the body has been sent to Jackson for an autopsy, a routine procedure in this type of incident.
Alvarez reportedly is the father of four children and works on an area ranch.
IN THE PHOTO: Divers Steven Spence and Luther Folson of the Yalobusha County Search and Rescue Team prepare to head out to check a spot where sonar picked up an object under the water during Sunday’s search for a missing Teasdale man on Enid Lake. The body was recovered Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by David Howell/North Mississippi Herald)
