Woman Still Missing After Jumping Into Merrimack River In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NH — Several agencies continued working the Merrimack River in Manchester Friday, attempting to find a woman who was last seen jumping into the river Thursday night after fleeing from Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies.

New Hampshire Fish and Game, Marine Patrol, and Manchester Fire Department all had equipment and personnel in the river and worked from a command post set up at the boat ramp behind the Delta Dental Stadium.

The high water levels in the river from consecutive days of heavy rain brought challenges to the crews searching. Fish & Game Lt. Adam Cheney said Friday morning they would not put divers in due to the current — unless something was found using the other search tools. Several methods were used for searching, including drones, boats, jet skis, drones, side scan sonar radar, and underwater cameras.

Thursday night, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies were at a well-known homeless camp along the river and in the area of the Foundry Restaurant. They located a woman who had warrants and after speaking to her, she fled from the deputies. Later, she jumped into the river. The woman, whose name had not been released, had a warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of possession of fentanyl and falsifying physical evidence.

The woman who is in her mid-20 was seen in the river on her back just south of the Granite Street Bridge and in the middle of the river. Several witnesses said she then went underwater and wasn’t seen again.

Manchester Fire Department launched two boats Thursday evening while sheriff deputies, Manchester police, Bedford police, and state police searched the river's banks on both sides. The search was called off Thursday night at about 10 p.m.

Cheney said late Friday afternoon, they had not located the woman, but had found a car submerged while searching the river. Late Friday afternoon, they had one item that appeared on the underwater camera they wanted to explore further. Divers were placed in the water to get a closer look but determined it was not a person. Crews broke down the command area and will possibly return Saturday.

The river level is expected to drop in the next few days, which may create better opportunities to find her.

Friday morning, while crews were searching for the missing woman, they were advised of another water rescue north of the Amoskeag Bridge. Teams quickly gathered equipment they were already using and responded to an area near Stark Lane.

A man, who was wearing a backpack, jumped into the river and attempted to swim across the river. The heavy current was making the man struggle. Firefighters launched a boat and brought him to the shore.

There are consistently homeless camps behind Stark Park and along the river. It is believed the man came from that area, but it could not be fully confirmed. Once the man was brought to safety members of the Manchester Mental Health Mobil Crisis Team assisted the man.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news