Husband and wife who died after falling through ice in Eastham, Massachusetts identified by children
The couple who died after falling through the ice on Cape Cod last weekend was identified Tuesday by their children as Kit and Jerry Boucher.
The Bouchers were walking their dog on Bee's River in Eastham, Massachusetts Saturday morning when they went through the ice. Kit Boucher died. Her body was removed from the river about two hours after the initial call for help.
Rescuers searched for Jerry Boucher for several hours Saturday and Sunday, but were forced to stop because the conditions had become too dangerous. They resumed the search Tuesday with divers, drones and helicopters searching the area. Eastham police chief Adam Bohannan said that they are hoping to pick the search back up on Thursday or Friday, depending on weather conditions.
"That ice weighs so much and we're so concerned that divers are going to get pinned underneath or between the ice. And you know, that's our job to make sure that they're safe while they're doing their job," Bohannan said.
"Our family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved parents, Kit and Jerry Boucher. We are deeply grateful for the heroic efforts of the first responders in Eastham. We are thankful for the outpouring of love, and appreciate the privacy and discretion the community is extending to our family during this unimaginably difficult time," Katy Boucher and Amy Lawson said in a joint statement Tuesday.
Bohannan said that they are dedicated to finding Jerry's body to help bring closure to the family.
"I can't even imagine how they feel right now to lose two loved ones at the same time," he said.
A makeshift memorial has sprung up on the riverbank, with flowers and a dog toy. Melon Regis came to the area to say a prayer for the couple.
"I just wanted to be close to wish them Godspeed on their journey," Regis explained.
Two police officers fell into the water during the rescue attempt. Both were taken to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment.
No other information about the incident is available at this point in the investigation.
Eastham, Massachusetts is 93 miles southeast of Boston.