Lucian Munguia’s Family Hoping For Prayer and Support on Saturday

The Yakima Bethel Church of the Nazarene will host a time of prayer and support for Lucian Munguia's family starting at 6:00 pm this Saturday, January 7. The church is located at 1103 West Mead Avenue. The event will be open to the public. The family is also holding a public celebration of life at 12:00 pm on Saturday, January 14 at Stone Church in Yakima.

The boy's body was found late last month in the Yakima River

It was back on December 29, 2022 that police found his remains in the Yakima River near Yakima Valley Highway and Burke Road in the Parker area. Police say there was no foul play suspected.  He had been missing from Yakima's Sarge Hubbard Park since September 10th when he was last seen in the playground area of the park.

Authorities searched for months without finding his body

The boy was the subject of a massive search before his body was found. Local police agencies along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation were involved in the search. Dive and forensic experts scoured the park and the park pond saying it was too dangerous to search the Yakima river at the time of his disappearance. An autopsy has found the boy died of an accidental drowning.

No safety changes are planned on the Yakima Greenway

Meanwhile the Executive Director of the Yakima Greenway, Kelly Connaughton says there's no plan to increase safety along the pathway to prevent future drownings. She says a barrier or fence between the Greenway Pathway and the Yakima River wouldn't be realistic and won't happen. She urges people to be vigilant while walking the pathway near the water.