A 15-year-old girl tragically drowned last week while swimming with friends in the Ouachita River.
Monroe Police Department officers were dispatched to the 3200 block of South Grand Street just before 7 p.m. on May 21, following reports of a possible drowning.
According to initial reports, Jessica Hunter, 15, had been swimming in the river with several friends when she suddenly went under the water and never resurfaced.
Authorities said emergency responders arrived on the scene quickly, but efforts to locate Jessica proved difficult. Rescue crews searched the area for more than an hour before recovering her body downstream from where she was last seen.
The news of Jessica’s death has shaken the local community, as many gathered near the site of the drowning, hoping for a different outcome. Friends described her as full of life, kind-hearted, and always smiling.
The incident appears to be a tragic accident.
Funeral arrangements for Jessica Hunter are incomplete at this time. Services will be handled by McFarland Funeral Home.
