SEARCH UPDATE: 2 Inflatable Tubes, Pink Shoes, And Fresh Footprints Found As Search Continues For 3 Missing On Muskegon River
SEARCH UPDATE: 2 Inflatable Tubes, Pink Shoes, And Fresh Footprints Found As Search Continues For 3 Missing On Muskegon River
Authorities searching for 2 women and 1 young boy missing since Tuesday on the Muskegon River have recovered 2 inflatable tubes, along with a pair of pink shoes believed to be connected to the group, and discovered additional footprints that investigators say could help piece together their last known movements. Search crews continue working to determine what happened as the investigation enters another critical stage.
Full update in the commentsđ
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Search crews in West Michigan continue looking for two women and a 9-year-old boy who went missing after going tubing on the Muskegon River earlier this week. Authorities say they have recovered two inflatable tubes believed to belong to the group and are examining footprints found near the scene, but the three individuals remain unaccounted for.
The missing are Jazzmin Hock, 28, of Muskegon; Sarah Vida, 28, also of Muskegon; and Kayden Kovalcik, 9. They were last known to be on the river near the Maple Island Boat Launch on Tuesday, August 4. Michigan State Police were notified on Wednesday, August 5, after a relative of one of the women was unable to reach them and later located their vehicles parked at the boat launch. One of the vehicles had a broken window.
Investigators recovered two pink and orange inflatable tubes that may have been used by the group. Footprints discovered in the area are also being evaluated as part of the ongoing investigation. Despite these findings, intensive searches by land, water, and air have not yet located Hock, Vida, or Kayden.
Familyâs Growing Anxiety
Brent Kovalcik, Kaydenâs father and Sarah Vidaâs ex-husband, spoke emotionally at a press conference about the uncertainty surrounding the disappearance.
âI donât know if theyâre alive. I donât know if they were kidnapped,â he said. âI donât know if theyâre down the river, far, far away. Itâs been nearly two days, and no one has any clue.â
Kovalcik described the emotional toll of the situation. âAll I have is millions of questions, and all Iâm hearing is silence because thereâs no one that has a clue of whatâs gonna happen, or what started it in the first place,â he told reporters. Referring to a recent photo of his son, he added through tears: âThe last picture I got of my son was four days ago, of him at Craigâs Cruisers with Sarah, having a great time. That might be the last picture I ever get.â
Expanding Search Efforts
Multiple agencies are participating in the search, including the Michigan State Police, Muskegon County Sheriffâs Office, the Department of Natural Resources, local fire departments, and other partners. Trooper Zach Murphy said crews are continuing surface searches on the river and expanding land-based efforts with additional drone assets.
âWe are currently waiting on some additional information to broaden our search, but as of this moment, we are going out with the Muskegon County Sheriffâs Office, the DNR, as well as the Michigan State Police and a few other fire departments,â Murphy said. âWeâre going to continue our surface searches. We have some additional drone assets throughout Muskegon County, the Muskegon Game Area that we are also going to be putting up to start the land-based search as well.â
Search boats have been operating along stretches of the Muskegon River, including areas from the Maple Island Boat Launch toward the Causeway, roughly 11 miles away. Officials have noted that water levels on the river are currently low, which can affect both search conditions and the movement of objects in the current.
Authorities have asked the public to stay away from active search areas so that first responders can work safely and effectively. If additional public assistance becomes necessary, officials say they will make that request.
How the Case Began
The investigation started when the father of one of the missing women found her vehicle at the Maple Island Boat Launch with a window smashed out. Family members reported they had been unable to contact any of the three people since they went tubing. The group is believed to have been using the orange and pink tubes later recovered by search teams.
The Maple Island Boat Launch is located in Newaygo County, approximately 16 miles east of Muskegon and about 20 miles west of Newaygo. The remote and wooded nature of parts of the river corridor has complicated search efforts.
Call for Information
Anyone who may have seen Jazzmin Hock, Sarah Vida, or Kayden Kovalcik, observed the pink or orange tubes, or has any information that could assist investigators is asked to contact:
Michigan State Police Hart Post: 231-873-2171
Newaygo County Sheriffâs Office: 231-689-7303
Newaygo Central Dispatch: 231-689-5288
As of the latest updates on August 7, the three remain missing. Search operations are continuing with a combination of boat, ground, and aerial resources while investigators examine the recovered tubes, footprints, and other physical evidence found near the boat launch. Family members and authorities continue to urge anyone with information to come forward.
