The search for a 45-year-old Alaskan mother who disappeared while swimming in a frozen river in a desperate attempt to save her drowning dog was suspended today.
Amanda Richmond Rogers, 45, was walking north of Anchorage with her dog Groot and her husband Brian Rogers on December 23, their 18th wedding anniversary.
Groot fell through a small hole in the ice of the frozen Eagle River after stopping for a drink, and first Brian and then Amanda followed him into the water.
After four days of searching, the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team and Wildlife Troopers announced they were ending the search for Amanda.
Officials said there are no further areas of interest open to search at this time and will now only review new evidence.
The search for mother of four Amanda Richmond Rogers and her Irish Wolfhound Groot, who disappeared just two days before Christmas on the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead, north of Anchorage, has been suspended today
Rescue efforts include helicopters, drones, divers, K-9 teams, sonar and remotely operated vehicles
Rescue efforts include helicopters, drones, divers, K-9 teams, sonar and remotely operated vehicles.
Amanda is now listed as missing with the Anchorage Police Department. The dog has not been found.
In a statement, officials confirmed: “The Alaska Wildlife Troopers, in coordination with the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, Anchorage Police Department and Solstice Search Dogs, have ended the active search for the 45-year-old Eagle River resident. Amanda Richmond.
'During four days of searching from the air with drones (sUAS) and helicopters and in the water using divers, K9 teams, sonar and remotely operated vehicles (ROV), search teams determined that there are no further areas of interest currently accessible to to search.
“If law enforcement receives new information or evidence, that evidence will be reviewed and a decision regarding additional search efforts will be made at that time. Anchorage police entered Richmond as a missing person and her next of kin have been notified.
Officials said there are no further areas of interest open to search at this time and will now only review new evidence
The dog also remains missing, despite both owners risking their lives to save it
Relatives were heading to the family's nearby home for the first Christmas since her father's death earlier this year.
The couple had been visiting friends along the route of the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead and had a “great time” at one of Amanda's favorite spots, Rogers said.
But their joy turned to horror when their beloved Irish Wolfhound fell through the hole and they ran across the ice.
“I thought I saw a flash of a large white paw under the ice,” Brian, 49, said in a statement.
'Before I even thought about it, I jumped in the water to save our dog. I held on to the edge of the ice as I frantically dove beneath the ice and reached into the darkness, trying to feel and grab our dog.
'I didn't feel anything. I ran out of breath and jumped out of the opening.
“I took four steps downstream to look for the dog through the ice again. I turned around and Amanda stepped into the water.
“I knew by the look on her face that she was going in to save our dog.
“She's an emergency room nurse, trained to help and save people. I screamed, but I doubt she even heard me as she was completely focused on saving the dog.
'Before I could get back to the opening to grab her, I saw her swimming downstream under the ice and then disappearing from view.
“She didn't jump in to save 'just a dog'; it was a family member. To me and our four boys, she died a hero.”
Amanda Richmond Rogers with her family Liam Rogers, 16, Leif Thurmond, 25, August Rogers, 15, Brian Rogers, 49, and Bodhi Rogers, 10
Brian said he was overwhelmed by the “incredible” support his family has received from their community and that they are “blessed to live in such a special place.”
The couple met when they both worked as medics in Texas, but settled permanently in Alaska when Brian was deployed there by the Air Force.
“Amanda loved her dogs almost as much as she loved our children, they were our family,” he said.
'We have a room in our house dedicated to the memory of all our previous dogs. We have tattoos of our dog's paws.
“Amanda has about 35,000 photos and videos on her phone from our 18 years of marriage, and the majority of them are of our dogs.”
Brian said he was overwhelmed by the “incredible” support his family has received from their community and that they are “blessed to live in such a special place.”
“Amanda was a wonderful mother and raised four wonderful children,” he added.
“She worked as an emergency room nurse, death scene investigator and pediatric hospice nurse, but the job she excelled at was being a mother.
Amanda is survived by her sons Liam Rogers, 16, Leif Thurmond, 25, August Rogers, 15, and Bodhi Rogers, 10.