Full-scale search concludes for body in Beaver Lake

Smaller crew will continue to look for woman

BENTONVILLE -- The full-scale search for a woman's body in Beaver Lake came to an unsuccessful end Monday.

"We have scoured the area several times," Capt. Lynn Hahn of Benton County sheriff's office said of the efforts to locate Stacey Hernandez's body.

Hernandez, 21, of Rogers went missing March 24 after the canoe she was in capsized.

The family was renting a cabin on the lake when five from the group went out on the water in a paddle boat and canoe. The group scattered when the boats capsized. Hernandez didn't have a life jacket.

The initial 911 call came in at 4 p.m. March 24 and the search continued through the weekend.

Hahn visited with Hernandez's family and informed them of the decision to scale back the search effort.

"They have been through denial and they are now beginning to realize it," Hahn said. "They were thankful for the efforts."

Authorities will search again, but in a smaller group, said Hahn. A time for the next search has not yet been set, Hahn said.

Authorities are confident that Hernandez's body is in the lake, Hahn said. Ground crews also searched the area around the lake for Hernandez, Hahn said.

Hahn encouraged people to wear life jackets when on the lake.

"We don't want any more tragedies," Hahn said. "There has never been a drowning out here with a person wearing a life jacket."

Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at tneal@nwadg.com or Twitter @NWATracy.

NW News on 03/31/2015

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