Fire Divers End Search for Missing Body at Tempe Town Lake

In the pre‑dawn hours of Sunday, Tempe’s fire‑rescue team scrambled to Tempe Town Lake after a shaky tip that someone had vanished beneath the water near the Rural Road Bridge. The call came just after 1 a.m., and both fire and police units were on the scene within minutes.

Assistant Chief Joe Escontreas of Tempe Fire Medical Rescue said the crews initially treated the incident as a rescue, hoping they’d locate a struggling swimmer. By the time the divers slipped into the lake around 10 a.m., it was clear the situation had shifted – there was no sign of life, so the operation was re‑classified as a recovery.

The divers methodically swept the murky depths beneath the Rural Road Bridge, pausing only to surface for air and to relay what they’d found (or, more accurately, hadn’t found). Hours ticked by, and by early afternoon – roughly 3 p.m. – the decision was made to call off the search. No body was recovered and, for now, no further recovery attempts are scheduled.

Why the person entered the water remains a mystery. The department said it didn’t uncover any evidence that could explain the incident, and no missing‑person report has been filed. Witnesses who said they saw someone go underwater near the bridge are being asked to come forward.

If you have any information – even something that seems trivial – please reach out to the Tempe Police Department’s non‑emergency line at 480‑350‑8311. Your tip could be the piece that finally puts this puzzle together.