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Missing swimmer’s body recovered from south-central Iowa lake

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May 28th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Marion County, Iowa) – The body of a swimmer who went missing Saturday evening at Lake Red Rock was recovered late Sunday morning. The Marion County Sheriff’s office says the body of 21-year-old Irias Gbarjolo, of Johnston, was located using sonar, around 10:21 a.m. Sunday. His body was brought to shore, where he was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement received a 9-1-1 call at around 7:27 p.m. Saturday, informing them about a young man who went underwater at Lake Red Rock and didn’t resurface. Law enforcement from multiple agencies were involved in the search, which was suspended shortly after midnight on Sunday. The search resumed around 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Gbarjolo’s was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. In a news release, Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said “My heart goes out to the family of this young man. It is always sad when an individual with such a promising future is taken from us at such a young age. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”