💛MISSING PERSON UPDATE: As of
8/16/2026 at approx. 7:30 AM, Leopoldo Pantoja has been LOCATED DECEASED
A team of EquuSearch volunteers arrived on Saturday, August 15, 2026 to assist with the search for 57 year-old Leopoldo Pantoja in Lake Sam Rayburn. Upon continuing the search this morning, Leopoldo was located.
We would like thank Sheriff Chuck Havard with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the EquuSearch Volunteers, and all the other agencies who worked tirelessly in conjunction with us during this search.
🙏Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, his family and friends during this time. Please keep them your prayers. 🙏
AUGUST 13,2026: Missing swimmer recovered from Lake Sam Rayburn:
At approximately 2:15 p.m. that afternoon, our dispatchers received a 911 call regarding a woman who had been rescued from Lake Sam Rayburn near Twin Dikes. The woman told deputies that a civilian operating a jet ski located her in the water and brought her safely to shore. When our deputies arrived, the woman explained that she and her husband, Pantoja, had been several hundred yards away from an island when they jumped into the water to cool off after getting hot. While they were in the water, the boat drifted away, and neither were able to reach it. She told deputies that Pantoja had attempted to swim to the boat but had not been seen since. The boat was located and recovered not far from the area where they had become stranded.