HOUSTON – Authorities believe they have found the body of 17-year-old Marvin Reyes Oliva on Monday after he went missing when a boat capsized in Lake Houston with three people inside.
The body was located around 7:20 a.m. on Monday. Houston police are still investigating and waiting for the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office to identify the person.
Officers responded to reports of a sinking boat and drowning in the 20000 block of Atascocita Shores Drive around 3 a.m.
HPD said three people were on the boat when it began to sink. Initially, officers said only one person was able to swim to shore, but a second person was later found after he walked to a nearby gas station and reported the incident.
HPD said the 12-foot jon boat was recovered by lake patrol.
The third boater was the 17-year-old.
He was last seen wearing a yellow shirt.
Ashley Lemus said Friday was the last time she saw her older brother, Marvin Reyes. They took videos together, laughing and smiling.
“He’s such a sweetheart like if you would want something from the store he will buy it for you. He will do anything and just be there for you,” said Lemus.
Sunday morning, she learned her 17-year-old brother was missing.
HPD Lake Patrol said Reyes and two other men were fishing on a jon boat near the McKay Bridge on Lake Houston. Reyes was last seen around 1 a.m. before the boat flipped over.
The boat was later recovered near the shore, but police said it is unclear how it got there. Officers also found a casting net and a paddle. Sgt. Garza recounted what one of the men told him.
“He’s saying what happened was one of the gentlemen went back to the boat, boat started taking on water and then at that time they flipped over and all three of them went into the water,” said Sgt. Garza. “It was a small boat, taking on the water, alcohol was involved, they were not wearing life jackets.”
Sgt. Garza said the dive team used sonar equipment near the bridge, but they did not find Reyes on Sunday.