Drowing victim found 20 miles downstream

The body of a Mountain Home man who dove into the Snake River and drowned has been recovered.

A private citizen discovered the body of Mark Sydorick as he and his daughter were canoeing near Crane Falls last Friday evening. Deputies from both the Elmore and Owyhee County Sheriff Departments participated in the recovery.

For nearly two weeks, Elmore County deputies and score of volunteers kept a 24/7 vigil along the banks of the Snake River. The Elmore County Sheriff's Department set up a command center immediately after Sydorick, 24, failed to resurface after diving off the Pasadena Valley Bridge, just east of Glenns Ferry, on July 17.

Elmore County Sheriff Rick Layher expressed appreciation to both his deputies and volunteers who helped in the search and overnight observation duties.

"I'm just so grateful to so many," said Layher. "I really appreciate the support" from the community, and local deputies who volunteered during their off hours to assist with search and recovery efforts. Volunteers not only helped in efforts to locate the victim's body, but also brought water to on-duty deputies," Layher noted. Rich Wills cooked for on-duty officers participating in the search, and local aviator Jason Meyers used his resources for an aerial search.

Despite the best efforts of deputies and volunteers, Sydorick's body traveled over 20 miles downstream before it was discovered at about 9 p.m. Friday evening. Recovery efforts took nearly two hours, Layher said.

Positive identification was made by tattoos on the victim's body, Layher said.