SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The search for a boy who fell into the Jordan River Surplus Canal is officially over for the night with no luck. Officers from nine different agencies were using their equipment and specialties in a joint effort to find eight year old Trejon Fite. The boy is presumed drowned and hasn't been seen in 19 days.
When Trejon fell into the surplus canal over two weeks ago search and rescue teams were out for six days looking for him but the search was unsuccessful. Now, with some new information and different conditions in the canal, they're trying again.
100 law enforcement officers searched on foot, boats, and a-t-vs. They used sonar underneath the bridges while cadaver dogs sniffed the banks. Even nearby residents stopped at the scene to send their prayers. Tina Hutzler says, “Ee've been praying for them to find him everyday cause as a parent it's hard to even imagine going through losing your own kid.”
The question is why now? Why after 19 days are search and rescue teams back out on the canal? Police say there are two reasons that made Thursday a prime time to be successful. Sgt. Robin Snyder with the Salt Lake City Police Department says, “With how much time has gone by it's more likely that the body would surface at this time.” She adds, “The water was so high 19 days ago that under the redwood bridge they only had half an inch of clearance and in order to put sonar in there they want to have three feet... we've got a foot and a half today.”
Thursday’s search covers 14 miles of the surplus canal. The first six miles from the scene to the west side of the airport, then another eight miles from there to the Great Salt Lake. Trejon's family and friends were also part of Thursday’s search. They've been out there looking everyday. Grandmother Joann Brown says, “We just want closure so basically we can get on with our life but we're never going to forget him, he was a special kid.”
After Thursday's search, officials say they feel they've looked at all possible areas and feel bad they can't bring closure to Trejon's family at this time, but have called off the search for good.
