The search for a missing paddleboarder at Saguaro Lake ended in tragedy on Wednesday when authorities recovered the body of 65-year-old Richard Powers, three days after he was last seen.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) confirmed that Powers, described by friends as a retired and athletic man, disappeared early Sunday morning, August 17, while training on the lake. When he failed to return by his usual 7 a.m. time, concerns quickly grew.
MCSO credited BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue) and their specially trained canines for significantly narrowing the search area.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to BORSTAR and their remarkable canines, whose skills greatly helped narrow the search area. With their support, our ROV team was able to locate and bring him home,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Friends of Powers believe he may have suffered a medical episode while paddleboarding.
The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, according to MCSO.
