Linn County officials describe search after two children found dead in frozen lake; coroners report pending

Two boys who had been reported missing were found dead in icy water at Lake Chaparral on the evening of Jan. 27, Linn County officials told commissioners.

The Linn County Sheriff's Office said deputies, the county fire department and mutual-aid dive teams searched after a deputy found a bicycle on the lake ice and a civilian later reported holes in the ice. "Tragically, the 2 juveniles were discovered deceased in that area by the sheriff's office aerial drone operators," the sheriff's office read in a prepared statement to commissioners. The office said an Overland Park dive team recovered the children from the water.

Why it matters: Commissioners were told the incident drew mutual aid from neighboring counties and prompted a critical-incident debrief for first responders. The county held a debrief Jan. 29 with peer support specialists for law enforcement and fire dispatchers.

The county read details of the search during the meeting: deputies used an aerial drone and then requested an underwater team from Kansas Wildlife and Parks and an Overland Park dive team. The prepared statement described the boys as male, ages 8 and 9, and said investigators observed tracks on the ice. "Investigators believe the 2 juveniles were on the ice at the location of the bicycle, and that while walking across the lake, they fell through the ice," the statement said. The sheriff's office said the official coroner's report has not been completed and that "this incident is believed to be a tragic accident."

Commissioners and county staff stressed the scale of outside support during the response. "Every county around us reached out, asked if we needed anything. They asked if we needed coverage, asked if we needed help," a county official said during the meeting, describing calls for assistance and offers of resources from nearby jurisdictions.

What county said it will do: County staff said they are coordinating follow-up with public works and public-safety partners to document costs from responding agencies and to hold a workshop for questions and to present figures on March 3. The board asked that any potential costs be laid out up front and that the county avoid surprise surcharges as it negotiates with outside vendors for recovery work.

Ending: The sheriff's office urged patience as investigators complete the coroner's report. Commissioners offered condolences to the families and noted the county is reviewing response costs and restoration plans at an upcoming workshop.