UPDATE: Body of 4-year-old drowning victim recovered

Published 2:51 pm Monday, August 29, 2022

The body of a 4-year-old boy lost this weekend during a tragic drowning at the Sabine River in Merryville was recovered early Monday morning, according to Beauregard Parish authorities.

Sheriff Mark Herford said the child was found around 8:40 a.m. Monday, a short time after the search resumed for the day with multiple assisting agencies.

Herford declined to identify the boy out of respect, he said, for the grieving family. Multiple sources on social media have shared images of the boy and the other victims, identifying the child as Bently Lane Fountain. A gofundme account has been set up to assist the child’s family with funeral expenses through Chaddick Funeral Home.

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The young boy was the final victim to be recovered. On Sunday, Herford said the three adult men who had been missing since Friday night had all been located. They were identified as Troy M. McCollough of the Junction community, Kelly Bailey of Hornbeck and Austin Scott of DeRidder.

According to Herford, the incident occurred Friday evening when the young boy was caught in the river’s current and the three men attempted to save him.

“These three men tragically lost their lives trying to rescue a young boy. They are heroes and should be remembered that way. My deepest condolences and my prayers are with the families of all those involved,” Herford stated.