Marlon Mendez, Jose Yanes Obituary, Death – Three men who were found dead in the Mississippi River near Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park have been identified by authorities. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) confirmed the victims as 28-year-old Marlon Mendez, 31-year-old Ruby Perez, and 52-year-old Jose Yanes. Their bodies were recovered Wednesday afternoon, just south of the park’s boat ramp.
Investigators say the exact cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner. The case remains under investigation, with officials working to piece together what led to the tragic incident.
According to deputies, the three men were spending time on a sandbar just south of the park’s boat ramp on Tuesday. They had been fishing and swimming in the river earlier in the day. Around 7:15 p.m., a report was made that the men were missing, prompting a large-scale search operation.
The search effort involved multiple emergency response teams. Within 45 minutes of the report, search boats were deployed into the water. However, the search had to be suspended around 10:30 p.m. due to darkness and resumed the following day.
Agencies involved in the operation included the Shelby County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue unit, Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Homeland Security, the Shelby County Dive Team, fire departments from Shelby County, Millington, and Tipton County, Memphis Police Harbor Patrol and Aviation units, and Tennessee State Parks personnel.
Following the incident, the Shelby County Fire Department issued a strong warning about the dangers of swimming in the Mississippi River. In a message posted to Facebook, they offered condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the extreme risks posed by the river.
“There are many dangers lurking in the Mississippi,” the fire department warned. They highlighted hazards such as submerged objects, underwater debris, and powerful eddy currents that can quickly pull swimmers under the surface. The message also cautioned against getting drawn into the main channel, where massive barges—comparable in size to skyscrapers on their sides—travel, posing a severe threat to anyone in the water.
Doug Ammons, co-owner of the Shelby Forest General Store, located a few miles from the river, echoed these sentiments, describing the river as “lethal” and far more dangerous than many realize.
Earlier in the day, reporters from WREG, a NewsNation affiliate, attempted to speak with the families and friends of the victims. However, the relatives chose not to comment, saying they were still waiting for updates and hoping for answers.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the men’s deaths. For now, the community mourns the loss of three lives and is reminded of the perilous nature of the powerful Mississippi River.
