According to Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, “During the morning hours of August 10, 2020, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, requesting assistance to find two (2) male subjects that went frogging in St. Martin Parish on August 8th. The subjects did not return home and were reported missing by a family member.”

The Search and Rescue with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office advised that a capsized boat was located in St. Landry Parish in the waterway near Lake Fordoche. Footprints exiting the water were located on the bank and deputies were able to follow them until the terrain became impassible.

A St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy then joined Louisiana State Police, who dispatched a pilot and helicopter to join the search near Lake Fordoche. In the afternoon hours, two (2) subjects were observed lying on the ground approximately 1000 yards east of Spillway Levee Road.

Wildlife and Fisheries agents were able to make contact with the two subjects and confirm that they were the missing boaters. Both subjects refused medical treatment.

Sheriff Guidroz stated, “Our Search and Rescue team trains exactly for this situation. We have rescue boats, all terrain vehicles, drones, search dogs, and high water vehicles. Joining forces with the Louisiana State Police and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in addition to utilizing their additional assets helped locate the two missing boaters faster. I would like to commend the search efforts by all three agencies for a quick and great outcome.”