A 45-year-old emergency room nurse and mother of four boys, Amanda (“Mandy”) Richmond Rogers, went missing under the ice of the frozen Eagle River in Alaska during a rescue attempt for her family dog.
The incident occurred on December 23, 2023, while Amanda and her husband, Brian Rogers, were hiking with their two dogs on the North Fork Eagle River trail near Anchorage to commemorate their 18th wedding anniversary.
According to Brian Rogers, the tragedy unfolded when their dog, Groot, fell through the ice. Brian jumped into the river to save Groot but was unable to locate him. After exiting the water, he saw Amanda enter the river in an attempt to rescue the dog. She subsequently swam under the ice and did not resurface.
The Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, the Solstice Search and Rescue K9 Team, and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers launched a search and rescue operation. However, the search was briefly interrupted on Tuesday afternoon due to equipment issues caused by the freezing conditions. The search resumed with teams evaluating new areas of interest and considering alternative strategies, as stated by Department of Public Safety spokesman Austin McDaniel.
Brian Rogers described the significance of the hike, noting it was meant to celebrate their family, including their pets, especially in light of the recent loss of Amanda’s father earlier that year. He emphasized the depth of Amanda’s love for their family and animals, highlighting her role as a death scene investigator and her passion for the outdoors and adventure.
