Brenda Duran, 30, is still missing after bravely leaping into the San Joaquin River near Newman in an attempt to save her daughter. The incident took place on Thursday, and efforts to find Duran have been ongoing since late Saturday morning.
Reports indicate that Duran was at Fisherman’s Bend, a caravan park on River Road, observing her children as they enjoyed themselves in the water. When one of her children, an 11-year-old girl, started having difficulty in the water, Duran immediately jumped in to help. Luckily, the girl was able to escape unharmed, along with her 14-year-old brother, who bravely tried to assist.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department was alerted to Duran’s situation via a 911 call at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Search efforts were called off that day at around 11 p.m. due to concerns over poor visibility and safety.
The search continued on Friday morning with the sheriff’s dive team, along with support from aircraft provided by various law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
These included the sheriff and Modesto Police Department, the West Stanislaus County Fire Protection District, Patterson District Ambulance, AMR ambulance, chaplains, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, and the Newman Police Department.
Jaime Aguilar, Duran’s husband, spoke highly of her vibrant and compassionate nature, highlighting her strength and selflessness in assisting others. Despite extensive search efforts, Duran’s current location remains a mystery, causing great concern among her loved ones and the authorities regarding her well-being.
Continued efforts are being made to locate Duran, with authorities appealing to anyone who may have information about her whereabouts. The hope is for her safe return.