SMART Divers 2006

February 21^st, 2008 – Guadalupe River, New Braunfels, Texas - An unlikely escape plan for four suspected burglars led to the supposed drowning death of one, authorities said. The body of Gary Mac Marentes, 20, of New Braunfels, was pulled from the Guadalupe River just south of IH-35 in an effort that involved the San Marcos Area Recovery Team (SMART). Marentes and three others were being pursued on foot by New Braunfels Police early Feb. 20 when the four got to the river and “commandeered a paddleboat” which they began taking downstream. It’s not yet known if the boat capsized or the suspects decided to bail out. However, only three people emerged from the water. New Braunfels firefighters began the search Wednesday afternoon. Thursday, SMART was called in to assist the fire department, as were three game wardens and an Austin PD helicopter. SMART divers located the body at 4:15 p.m. Thursday in approximately seven feet of water, 25 feet from the river’s south shore. An autopsy was ordered.

Sunday July 21st – Lake Dunlap, Guadalupe County, Texas – SMART was called upon by the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department to assist in recovery of a 21 year old male. With the assistance of Lake Dunlap VFD, Lake McQueeny VFD, City of Schertz EMS, and TPW Game Wardens, divers recovered the victim. Kyle Alan Ritcheske of the Houston area was swimming with three friends when he went under water and did not come up, Guadalupe County Cpl. John Batey said. Authorities responded at 1:30 p.m. for a possible drowning but were unable to locate Ritcheske until divers from the San Marcos Area Recovery Team pulled his body from the water more than two hours later. Ritcheske and his three friends had rented a house on Lake Dunlap, on the northwest border of Guadalupe County near New Braunfels, for the weekend. Batey said Rithcheske had a medical history of seizures that could have caused the drowning. “We believe that’s the major factor, that he possibly had a seizure,” Batey said.

Monday July 28th – Canyon Lake, Comal County, Texas - A teenage boy drowned at the Fort Sam Houston Recreation Area at Canyon Lake. The 15-year-old victim Jerry Madrigal, of San Antonio, was found at 1:49 p.m. by emergency responders, according to a news release from the Comal County Sheriff's Department. Emergency dispatchers received a call about noon from somebody who said the boy had been underwater for 10 minutes, but hadn't resurfaced, according to the release. Officers from the sheriff's office, Texas Parks and Wildlife wardens, Canyon Lake emergency responders and the U.S. Corps of Engineers responded to the scene, and the San Marcos Area Recovery Team was also called out to assist, but was found prior to SMART arrival from the surface. Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Jennifer Saunders pronounced the boy’s death an accidental drowning at 2 p.m.