Bodies of 4 Drowning Victims Recovered from East Texas Lake

CROCKETT (AP) – Four people have drowned in Houston County Lake in East Texas over the weekend in what authorities believe was a canoeing accident. Authorities recovered the bodies of Antonio Gutierrez, 49, Amy Mendez, 47, Sebastian Chavez, 6, and Juan Cantu, whose exact age was not disclosed. Officials believe they drowned Sunday afternoon. The Houston County Sheriff’s Office said three bodies were recovered Sunday, and Gutierrez’s body was recovered Monday morning. Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesman Steve Lightfoot says the four were at the lake for a family gathering Sunday near Crockett. A search began after a Crockett Family Resort employee became concerned when the four did not return a rented canoe on time. Lightfoot said what caused the canoe to capsize is unknown, but foul play is not suspected.