LA HABRA : Divers’ Search for Girl in Lake Continues

Divers continued searching Thursday for the body of a 4-year-old La Habra girl who is presumed to have drowned in San Bernardino County’s Silverwood Lake.

Marisol Quezada fell into the lake when the family’s rented aluminum boat capsized in 75 to 100 feet of water during an outing Sunday. Authorities said the boat was loaded with too many people.

James Fitzpatrick, a supervising ranger at the lake, had said Thursday that divers who had searched the lake for five days would no longer look under water because of poor visibility. But divers did go back in Thursday and will do so again early today.

“We have been able to talk to more witnesses and get a little better idea of where the boat was when it overturned,” said Fitzpatrick.

Law enforcement officials said the dive is hazardous and the search has been hampered by other boats on the lake and by poor visibility in the murky water.

“Basically, there is no visibility,” said San Bernardino Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Crouch. “At most, the divers can see maybe two or three inches in front of them. It’s due to the depth of the water and the algae.”

But authorities said they are committed to finding the body.

“It’s important,” Crouch said. “We want to locate the victim, the same as the family. It’s been a priority since the accident on Sunday.”

An attorney for the family, Oscar H. Gutierrez, said the lack of success in finding the girl’s body is taking a toll on grief-stricken family members who want her to have a proper burial.

“They are really torn up,” Gutierrez said. “They haven’t given up hope.”