Body of Woman Who Jumped Into Icy River Found Holding Dog She Was Trying to Rescue, Family Says

Four months after Amanda Richmond Rogers vanished under the ice of an Alaskan river, her body was discovered holding her dog she attempted to rescue

The body of a woman who tried to save her dog from an icy river was discovered in Anchorage, Alaska, on Sunday, reports Anchorage Daily News, Alaska News Source and the Daily Mail.

Amanda Richmond Rogers, 45, went for a walk along North Fork Eagle River with her husband, Dr. Brian Rogers, in celebration of their 18th wedding anniversary on Dec. 23, 2023. During their walk, one of their two dogs, Groot, fell through the ice on the river, and Richmond Rogers jumped in to save their dog.

Her body was discovered on March 24. Her sister, Jennifer Richmond, shared that Richmond Rogers had Groot in her arms once found, noting that Richmond Rogers' family said, “She really did die a hero.”

On Sunday afternoon, a passerby found her body off the North Fork trail, said Anchorage Police Department spokesperson Renee Oistad, according to Alaska News Source. The Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office then confirmed her identity.

At the time of the incident, Rogers noticed their dog, Groot, fell into the ice. Rogers, 49, quickly went into the river to search for their pet, but once he couldn’t locate Groot, he headed back to the surface. Once he came up, Richmond Rogers jumped into the water to rescue their dog.

“I knew from the look on her face she was going in to save our dog,” said Rogers, per Anchorage Daily News. He yelled for his wife not to go in, and once she was under the ice, she vanished.

Related: 2 New Jersey Teens Fall Through Ice and Die in Separate Incidents: 'It Has Been a Tragic Night'

“Amanda loved her dogs nearly as much as our kids, they were our family,” said Rogers. He explained that his wife “did not jump in to save ‘just a dog,’ it was a family member.”

The pair shared four sons: Leif Thurmond, who is in his 20s, teenagers Liam Rogers and August Rogers, as well as 10-year-old Bodhi Rogers.

Following the Dec. 23 tragedy, the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue and Recovery Team looked for her body in the following days. The search ended on Dec. 29, reported NBC News.

Earlier in March, Richmond Rogers' family, friends and colleagues hosted a celebration of life. 

“Do as Mom did and leave this earth with no regrets,” said Leif, per Alaska News Source. “Mom was such a unique, special person that God couldn’t wait any longer to see her in heaven, and I don’t blame him,” added Liam.

Related: 88-Year-Old Man Drowns After ATV Driven by Grandson Breaks Through Icy Lake: 'Pray for the Family'

“She would take Dad, her sons and her dogs over anything in the world, her identity, I don’t care, anything,” said Bodhi. Her third son, August, added, “Coming together to make light of this dark situation would bring tears to her eyes because we won’t look at how much time we didn’t get with her, but all the time we did.”

Additionally, her fellow nursing coworkers held a Nightingale ceremony to honor Richmond Rogers' dedication to saving lives as an emergency room and pediatric hospice nurse.

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Representatives for the Anchorage Police Department and Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.

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