Crews find body of Colorado Springs woman missing in Rio Grande
UPDATE: The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday that the body of Roberta Sophia Rodriguez had been found after 10 days of searching in the Rio Grande river.
Search and Rescue crews found Rodriguez’s body at about 10:45 a.m. from the south fork of the river.
Rodriguez was from Colorado Springs, and she was driving along Highway 160 with her boyfriend when they stopped at some rocks by the vier. Rodriguez climbed up onto a rock but fell in the river and was carried downstream.
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The woman who fell into the south fork of the Rio Grande river on Saturday the 15th of June has been identified as Roberta Sophia Rodriguez of Colorado Springs.
According to Mineral County Sheriff’s Office, Rodriguez and her boyfriend were driving back from Colorado Springs to Bayfield along Highway 160 when they decided to stop at the elbow near mile marker 176.
Around 8:30 pm, the two climbed up onto a rock that was surrounded by river flow, but it was after they were leaving the rock when Rodriguez fell in.
“They were leaving, and the male party stated he heard a splash,” said Mineral County Sheriff Fred Hosselkus. “He turned around and his female partner was gone.”
The boyfriend saw Rodriguez trying to swim, but she went around a big rock, and was gone. He went downstream to try to catch her but never saw her come.
That night search parties conducted searches until midnight. On Sunday, around 25 people were on hand to help in the search for Rodriguez.
Search and rescue teams have been patrolling 10 miles downstream every day since her disappearance. Calling in help from South Ford and Buena Vista.
The river has sustained dangerously high water levels since the incident, complicating the search effort.
“There are steep cliffs all the way down to the river there are other places where there is so much back water you can’t even get close to the river because of the high flow this time of year,” said Don Dustin with the Mineral County Search and Rescue.
The water is fast-moving and murky. According to the Mineral County Sheriff, the south fork is currently flowing at 1,400 cubic feet per second (CFS), and was at 1,800 CFS when Rodriguez fell in Saturday. Both significantly higher than the normal river flow.
“The chances of her being found alive are basically zero,” said Dustin. “Now it’s just a matter of recovering the body, and providing closure to the family.”
Family of Rodriguez was brought out to the search Wednesday, and were briefed on the current prognosis.
Family left a small vigil near the spot where Rodriguez fell into the river.
Mineral County will continue to search and assess areas for high probability of recovery. They believe the river will subside in the coming days and will help in the search efforts.
This is an ongoing search. Check back for updates.
