Joel Castro Juarez, 23, went into Redfish Lake near Point Campground in Stanley, Idaho, on July 25, 2015, after a piece of clothing fell from the rented boat. He entered the water without a life jacket and was quickly affected by the lake’s very cold temperature; witnesses say the cold shock made it difficult for him to return to the rental boat. Two people from the boat jumped in to help but also struggled in the cold and were unable to lift Joel back aboard. He submerged and did not resurface.

The area where he was last seen is deep, estimated at 110 to 150 feet. Authorities began an immediate search; the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, marine patrol and search and rescue teams searched until dark and continued the next day with volunteers, divers, a water search dog, a submersible robot and deputies from Bonneville and Bingham counties. After six days there was no sign of Joel and the official search was suspended because of poor weather and the depth, with plans to resume when specialized deep-water sonar was available.

Anyone who was at Redfish Lake that day or who has information about Joel’s disappearance is asked to come forward.