Missing Mother Found Dead After Jumping into California River to Rescue Daughter
“She basically gave everything for her kids, even her life," a relative said
A woman who went missing after she jumped into a California river to save her daughter has been found dead, authorities said this week.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post that the body of Brenda Duran, 30, was located on Saturday, March 11, in the San Joaquin River by volunteers involved in the search for her. Sheriff’s deputies were notified of the discovery shortly after.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Brenda Duran during this time,” the sheriff’s office said in their statement.
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Authorities said an emergency call was placed around 6:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 9, regarding a water rescue in the river at Fisherman’s Bend near Crows Landing. Upon arriving at the scene, deputies were told that Duran was by the river watching her children play in the water when her 11-year-old daughter "began having difficulties keeping her head above the water."
Duran jumped into the river to help the child, per the sheriff’s office. However, Duran also found it difficult to "stay afloat," prompting her 14-year-old son to go into the water to save his mother and sister.
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"I realized [my sister] fainted, I jumped into the river, I swam to the middle, I grabbed her and I came out by the time I saw that I looked for my mom to save her and she was already under the water," Jaime Aguilar Guzman, Duran's son, told CBS affiliate KOVR.
The sheriff’s office noted the two children safely made it out of the river, but Duran did not, adding, “The two juveniles were immediately given medical attention by ambulance personnel at the scene.”
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The search for Duran continued until 11 p.m., when it was suspended due to concerns over visibility and safety, the sheriff’s office added. It then resumed the next morning.
Authorities said that an autopsy will be conducted to determine Duran's cause of death.
Prior to the discovery of Duran’s body, her husband, Jaime Aguilar, told NBC affiliate KCRA that family members had been searching for the woman for over 12 hours on foot, along with kayaks and paddleboards.
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Jorge Guzman Duran, a family member, said that Brenda was a hard-working mother, per KOVR.
“She basically gave everything for her kids, even her life," he said.
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