INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the bodies found Monday in the White River as the two missing kayakers.
The coroner's office confirmed 30-year-old Marcus Robinson and 22-year-old Solomon Shirley drowned.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources identified a body found around 9:45 a.m. April 22 in the 1700 block of West Michigan Street as Shirley.
Around 6 p.m. Monday, officials found a second body in the river near West 10th Street, but they were not able to confirm the victim's identity at that time.
Kevin Jones, an Indianapolis Fire Department special operations chief, said dispatchers received a call around 8:30 p.m. April 16 reporting that two kayakers went over a low-head dam on the river, south of 16th Street at Belmont Beach.
A DNR spokesperson identified the missing kayakers:
- Marcus Robinson, 30: Last seen wearing gray shirts, shoes and shorts
- Solomon Shirley, 22: Last seen wearing a black shirt and black pants
Multiple rescue crews entered the water near West New York Street, where they found two kayaks but not the kayakers.
“It is considered a challenging search due to the fact that we are around a dam, which poses a really dangerous risk,” said Trevor Sager, an Indiana conservation officer. “Also, you do have rising water from all the rains we had last week. The water levels are higher than normal.”
Several family members and volunteers searched the area Wednesday, April 17 waiting for answers.
The DNR spokesperson said multiple agencies used boats and drones, as well as looked onshore for the missing kayakers.
The group “Friends of the White River” also spoke with 13News. Executive Director Scott Salmon said the Emerichsville Dam is extremely dangerous.
A few weeks ago, they installed more signage north of the dam to alert people.
In 2021, a 17-year-old died after going over the same dam in a canoe.
“It’s something we are trying to warn people about. Avoid these low-head dams. Don’t plan on going over them. They are not rapids. They are not fun,” Salmon said.
He said the water level of the river is the highest it’s been in more than 20 years, which makes the water even more powerful and hazardous.
