SHONGALOO, La. — A fishing trip along the banks of Dorcheat Bayou ended in heartbreak Sunday morning after two people drowned in what authorities are calling a tragic accident.
Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker identified the victims as 54-year-old Annie Ruth Buggs of Bernice and 41-year-old Deandrea Perez Ford of Homer.
Parker said the pair had been fishing near a boat launch off Bobby Davis Road, south of Shongaloo, when disaster struck. Evidence at the scene suggested that one of them fell into the water after a chair tipped, while the other entered the bayou in a desperate attempt to help.
“We cannot be sure which of them fell into the water. We found a chair in the water and another still on the bank,” Sheriff Parker explained. “We learned from relatives that neither of the individuals could swim. It’s just a tragic event.”
The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call shortly before 8:30 a.m. reporting a body floating near the boat launch. Deputies arrived alongside firefighters from Springhill, Cotton Valley, and Sarepta, and quickly recovered Buggs’ body from the water.
As deputies investigated further, they noticed the absence of vehicle keys belonging to a car parked nearby. Concerned that another person might still be in the water, Parker said they requested assistance from the Springhill Dive Team.
“During their search, they discovered the body of Mr. Ford in about 10 feet of water,” Parker said.
The recovery was described as a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, with assistance from the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, which also took on the difficult task of notifying family members.
Sheriff Parker expressed gratitude for the teamwork and offered words of compassion to the grieving families. “We really appreciate the assistance from all the agencies, and we want to thank the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office for notifying the families,” he said. “All of us want to convey our deepest sympathies to the families of these individuals. We will keep them in our prayers.”
Both bodies have been transported to Little Rock, Arkansas, where autopsies will be conducted. Results are expected within two weeks, Parker confirmed.
The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office reminded residents to use caution around local waterways, particularly when swimming ability is limited. Officials stressed that life jackets and flotation devices can often mean the difference between life and death in such emergencies.
The community of Webster Parish is now mourning the loss of two lives, remembering Buggs and Ford not just as victims of tragedy, but as family members and friends whose absence will be deeply felt.
