Full Breakdown
Three-Day Search Ends with Rescue of Family Stranded on the Muskegon River
8/12/2026, 9:32:45 PM
Core Event: Missing Tubers Found Alive After Three Days
A mother, her 9-year-old son, and the mother’s cousin set out on a tubing trip on the Muskegon River from the Maple Island Boat Launch in Newaygo County on Tuesday. Their tubes were lost after striking a log jam, and they failed to return. Reported missing the next day, they were located alive on Friday afternoon in a wooded area northeast of the Mill Iron Boat Launch in Muskegon County.
Background & Context
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officers and Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers conduct joint search-and-rescue operations for missing persons in wilderness and water environments. Conservation officers are state-certified law-enforcement officers trained in both wildlife and human tracking.
Key Figures & Groups
- Cameron Wright – DNR Conservation Officer, Newaygo County – Led the on-ground tracking effort.
- Anna Cullen – DNR Conservation Officer, Muskegon County – Assisted in interpreting terrain clues.
- Seth Rhodea – DNR Sergeant, Law Enforcement Division – Supervises the southern Michigan search-and-rescue team.
- Zach Murphy – MSP Marine Service Team Trooper – Coordinated the K-9 unit.
- Jeremy Martin – MSP Trooper – First responder who arrived with a cadaver-search canine.
Timeline
- Tuesday: Tubing trip begins at Maple Island Boat Launch.
- Wednesday: Family reported missing after their vehicle is found at the launch with a broken window.
- Thursday: Inflatable tubes and footprints discovered along the riverbank.
- Friday (late afternoon): DNR officers spot a path through a log jam, follow footprints and bent vegetation, and locate the three individuals about a quarter-mile from the Mill Iron Boat Launch.
Data & Statistics
- Search area spanned roughly 820 yards (about half a mile) from the river to the rescue site.
- The trio was found approximately six to seven miles from their launch point, depending on the source.
- Rescue teams employed boats, helicopters, drones, and a K-9 unit over the three-day operation.
Official Statements & Responses
DNR officials said the officers’ familiarity with the terrain and systematic tracking of subtle clues—footprints, bent grass, tipped ferns, broken sticks—were decisive. MSP medical personnel reported that the two women were treated for infections, dehydration, and rashes, while the boy was released after recovery. Both agencies highlighted the collaborative “Unified Command” structure that allowed multiple law-enforcement, fire, and volunteer groups to operate cohesively.
Why It Matters
The rescue highlights the specialized training of DNR conservation officers in wilderness tracking and serves as a reminder about the risks of using unsuitable inflatables on natural waterways.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Distance from launch: Some outlets state the rescue site was about a quarter-mile from the Mill Iron Boat Launch, while others report six to seven miles from the original launch point.
- Exact time of discovery: Reports vary between “just after 4:30 p.m.” and “4:36 p.m.” on Friday.
- Names of the women: One source lists the cousin as “Jazmin Hock,” another as “Jazman Hock.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “There was one piece of evidence, specifically, that I was not quite making sense of,” — Cameron Wright
- “We could see a very clear path,” — Anna Cullen
- “The first couple call outs did not lead to anything, but eventually we heard what we thought was a child calling out to us in the distance,” — Zach Murphy
What's Next
MSP and DNR officials plan to review the incident to refine search protocols for similar water-related emergencies. No further public actions have been announced.
