On a cold evening in February, Briella* and her 4-year-old daughter Amara found themselves in the Ohio River’s icy waters. Briella had hit a utility pole and must have stepped on the gas pedal, sending them off the road into the river. The ice on the river held them up for a while, giving the local fire department time to arrive. Just as they rescued Amara from the back window, the car broke through the ice and disappeared— with Briella still inside.
The car was recovered the following day, but Briella was missing. The ice and high water made searching difficult. CAM’s Search & Rescue was notified, and 11 team members began searching, but they did not find Briella. It wasn’t until a month later that Briella’s body was recovered in Kentucky when authorities were searching for a different drowning victim.
Pray for Briella’s family and others who are grieving loved ones. It is in these moments when team members can show God’s love and provide support for those in distress. Even when a lost person cannot be located, it leaves a powerful witness to families when caring people show up to help in the midst of their trauma.
