Body of missing swimmer found in Patuxent River

The body of a 19-year-old Huntingtown man who was last seen swimming in the Patuxent River near the Benedict Bridge Monday evening was recovered Wednesday morning.

According to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, Alex-Garcia-Lopez’s body was located around 6 a.m. in the vicinity where he was last seen alive.

The search for Garcia-Lopez began shortly after 7 p.m. on July 8 after a 911 hangup call was received.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, deputies responded to Hallowing Lane in the area of the Benedict Bridge and determined the call was for a missing person.

Investigators said Garcia-Lopez “was swimming in the Patuxent River approximately 10 to 20 yards from the shoreline and at one point went underwater and never resurfaced.”

Sheriff’s office personnel, along with Maryland State Police troopers, canvassed the shoreline.

Also responding were crews from the Prince Frederick and Benedict volunteer fire departments, Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Calvert sheriff’s office drone unit. The Calvert County Dive Team also aided in the search.

“Notification of next of kin was made and the body was transported to the office of the chief medical examiner in Baltimore for further investigation,” a sheriff’s office press release stated.