BREAKING NEWS: Redmond Man Drowns in Kayaking Accident at Prineville Reservoir

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Dive rescue crews recovered the body of a 39-year-old Redmond man yesterday from Prineville Reservoir following a search that began Saturday evening. Authorities identified the victim as Ricardo Toribio Amezcua, who died in an apparent kayaking accident while fishing.

Rescuers located Amezcua at a depth of approximately 90 feet in the reservoir. According to the Crook County Sheriff's Office, Amezcua was the sole occupant of the kayak and was not wearing a life jacket. Sheriff's officials said there is no suspicion of foul play.

Emergency dispatchers at Crook County 9-1-1 initially received multiple emergency calls at approximately 5:49 p.m. Saturday regarding a person in distress in the water north of Powder House Cove Day Use. Poor cellular coverage in the area hindered dispatchers from obtaining additional information from reporting parties. Responders from the Crook County Sheriff's Office, Crook County Fire & Rescue, Airlink medical helicopter and the Prineville Police Department deployed to the reservoir.

First responders located an overturned kayak near the north shoreline of the reservoir. Airlink crews landed nearby and inspected the vessel, finding a backpack and a fishing pole inside, but no sign of Amezcua. A marine deputy and a police drone operator searched the area for several hours Saturday evening before concluding search efforts pending additional resources.

Search operations resumed Sunday after the Crook County Sheriff's Office requested a side-scan sonar boat from Klamath County Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue and additional support from Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Dive Rescue. The sonar crew located Amezcua's body in 90 feet of water later that day, but safety equipment issues postponed recovery until Monday morning, when the Deschutes County dive team brought him to the surface.

Numerous local and state entities assisted throughout the response and recovery, including Oregon State Parks & Recreation, the Redmond Police Department, Whispering Pines Funeral Home, the Deschutes/Crook County Medical Examiner's Office and the Crook County District Attorney's Office.

Previous reporting:

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Crook County Sheriff's Office posted on social media on Sunday morning, deputies responded to a boating incident at Prineville Reservoir.

🚨BOATING INCIDENT🚨

Prineville Reservoir (Powder House Cove/Bowman Dam area)

08/30/26 10:00 am

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Boating Incident near the north shore of Prineville Reservoir across from Powder House Cove. If you are recreating near this area, please use extreme caution and stay a safe distance away from law enforcement patrol boats.

No further information is available at this time.