Mother of Four, Aged 45, Goes Missing in Frozen Alaska River While Rescuing Dog on Wedding Anniversary.
Amanda Richmond Vanishes While Chasing Dog into Frozen Eagle River, Attempting an Ice Swim to Locate It. Amanda and her husband, Brian Rogers, were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary with a hike along the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead, just two days before Christmas. ‘I could tell by the expression on her face that she was going in to rescue our dog,’ stated Rogers. The search for the missing mother of four will recommence at dawn.
The search will begin anew at dawn as authorities work to recover the remains of a mother of four from Alaska who went missing while attempting to rescue her drowning dog by swimming beneath the icy river surface. Amanda Richmond Rogers, aged 45, was commemorating her 18th wedding anniversary with her husband, Brian Rogers, during a hike north of Anchorage on December 23rd. Tragedy struck when their dog, Groot, slipped through a small ice hole while taking a drink, prompting Brian and subsequently Amanda to enter the frigid water in a rescue attempt.
In a statement, Rogers, aged 49, emphasized that Amanda didn’t dive in to rescue “just a dog”; she was saving a cherished family member. He added, “To me and our four boys, she is a hero in her passing.
Relatives were en route to the family’s nearby residence to celebrate their first Christmas since her father’s passing earlier this year. While traveling, the couple made a stop to visit friends along the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead, and they were thoroughly enjoying themselves in one of Amanda’s cherished locations, as per Rogers. However, their delight turned into a nightmare when their beloved Irish Wolfhound plunged through an opening in the ice, prompting them to rush across the frozen surface.
I caught a glimpse of a large white paw beneath the icy surface,” recalled Rogers. “Without a second thought, I found myself leaping into the water to rescue our dog. I clung to the edge of the ice while desperately submerging myself under the frozen layers, reaching into the darkness in an attempt to locate and grasp our dog. Unfortunately, I couldn’t feel anything, ran out of breath, and had to leap out of the opening.
I walked a few paces downstream to scan the ice, hoping to spot the dog,” recounted Rogers. “When I turned around, Amanda was entering the water. The determination on her face told me she was determined to rescue our dog. As an emergency room nurse, she’s trained to assist and save lives. I shouted, but I doubt she heard me, as her entire focus was on rescuing the dog. Before I could return to the opening and attempt to reach her, I witnessed her swimming downstream under the ice, disappearing from view
I waited and waited, and I’m still waiting,” Rogers expressed. “For those questioning why we took the plunge to save our dog, all I can say is that our instincts kicked in, and we acted without hesitation.” The search for Amanda involves the joint efforts of Alaska State Troopers, the state’s Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, the Solstice Search team, and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, who have been actively participating since the alert was raised early Saturday afternoon.
Due to the harsh Arctic conditions, certain rescue operations had to be temporarily suspended on Tuesday as equipment became frozen. When the search continues on Wednesday, it will involve the utilization of underwater drones, sonar gear, and specialized rescue dogs. Austin McDaniel, representing the Alaska State Troopers, acknowledged the tragedy and expressed condolences to the family, particularly considering the proximity to the Christmas holiday. He emphasized that their primary goal is to locate the missing woman to provide the family with some closure.
The couple first crossed paths while working as medics in Texas but decided to establish their permanent residence in Alaska after Brian Rogers was stationed there by the Air Force. Rogers shared, “Amanda held a deep affection for our dogs, almost as much as she did for our children; they were an integral part of our family.” He added, “We even have a dedicated room in our house as a tribute to the memory of all our past dogs, and both of us have tattoos of our beloved dogs’ paw prints.
Amanda’s phone contains approximately 35,000 photos and videos that span our 18 years of marriage, with the majority of them featuring our beloved dogs,” Rogers shared. He expressed his profound gratitude for the “remarkable” support their family has received from the community and acknowledged how fortunate they are to reside in such a unique and supportive place.
He also praised Amanda’s role as an exceptional mother, having raised four exceptional children. He noted her diverse professional experiences, which included working as an emergency room nurse, a death scene investigator, and a pediatric hospice nurse. However, he emphasized that her most outstanding role was that of a mother.
She took pleasure in outdoor activities, cherished her family, had a deep love for all animals, and thrived on adventure. She positively impacted numerous lives, and I could continue to extol her virtues endlessly,” Rogers expressed. Amanda’s sister, Jennifer, emphasized that Amanda’s legacy would be marked by her boundless kindness. “Her sons meant the world to her,” Jennifer added.
Regrettably, the dog has yet to be located.
