(Arnolds Park)– After nearly eight months of searching, Randy and Carla Helmers of Estherville can finally get some closure.
The body of their 12-year-old son, Collin, was recovered late Friday afternoon from West Lake Okoboji.
Collin and Matthew Molacek, also of Estherville, were on a dock barge that sank late in the afternoon of October 23rd, 2004 just off of Gull Point. Molacek’s body was recovered a few days after the mishap.
It wasn’t until about 4:30 p.m. Friday when Helmers body would finally be found. At a Saturday morning news conference, Sheriff Greg Baloun said the body was discovered by two local girls and some youth from Boys Town on Terrace Park Beach who were on waverunners. They contacted authorities upon making the discovery.
Baloun says the body was recovered about 700 feet south and east of Gull Point about 1,100 feet from where the barge went down.
Gary Owen of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says warmer water temperatures the last few days may have played a role in the timing of the recovery. Owen says the body was found on the shallow side of a reef where the depth drops from 11 feet to 60 feet.
Mark Petersen of the Okoboji Underwater Search and Rescue Team says the recovery took place just south of an area that had been extensively searched with a submarine and side scan sonar.
Randy and Carla Helmers were also on hand for Saturday’s news conference. They both thanked the community and the countless volunteers for their work and support.
The Helmers added they can now finally get some closure. Choking back tears, Carla said they’ll now be able to visit their boy’s grave. Randy Helmers says they’ve been crying the past seven and-a-half months. He says now that the body has been found, they have a bitter-sweet feeling. He says they have some peace now in that Collin has been recovered, but he says the fact that Collin lost his life is bitter.
Randy added fundraising efforts by the Collin Helmers Foundation will continue. An extensive campaign is being planned for the Fourth of July to raise money for some high tech sonar equipment.
