Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Recovers Body Of Drowning Victim

On Saturday July the 4th the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office received a call to Vinton, Louisiana in reference to a possible drowning.  Shannon Godfrey, 28, of DeRidder was playing kickball with his family when the ball went into the Sabine River.  Godfrey went into the river to get the ball and went under the water and never resurfaced.    

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office marine division was called out to search for Godfrey.  For the past seven days, the Marine division along with other agencies and volunteers searched for Godfrey's body.

This morning, the CPSO is reporting that the body of Shannon Godfrey was found within 100 yards of where he went under in the Sabine River.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office released this statement on behalf of Sheriff Tony Mancuso:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the other law enforcement agencies for their assistance, as well as the many citizens who volunteered countless hours to help bring closure to this family,” says Sheriff Tony Mancuso.  “Our Marine Division, who has worked around the clock for the last seven days, could not have done this without them.  My thoughts and prayers are with the Godfrey family.”