Austin, TX
Latest body found in Lady Bird Lake renews safety concerns
Household of Jason John speaks out after one other physique present in Girl Chook Lake
Jason John’s physique was present in Girl Chook Lake close to Rainey Avenue in February; now his household is talking out after one other physique was discovered within the lake on Saturday.
AUSTIN, Texas – After one other physique was present in Girl Chook Lake this weekend, there are renewed issues concerning the repeated incidence.
Police say 33-year-old Jonathan Honey was discovered Saturday afternoon and was reported lacking the day earlier than. The reason for his loss of life continues to be beneath investigation.
Jason John’s physique was discovered within the lake in February. His mom, Elsie John, says listening to about one other sufferer is just like the trauma taking place once more.
“We had been in disbelief. I felt like watching a scary film or a horror film. That’s how I felt, I felt in the mean time. As quickly as I heard the information, I noticed myself strolling on the path. I felt I skilled in my physique that I truly I began shaking after I heard it first, after which I felt that I’m strolling down Rainey Avenue. I’m strolling down the lake and strolling down on the paths, as a result of we had essentially the most painful days,” she mentioned.
Name for lights, cameras alongside darkish path close to Austin’s Rainey Avenue District
Austin Metropolis Council members heard from a number of households whose family members had been both discovered lifeless or badly injured close to the path after an evening out within the well-liked leisure district.
A number of our bodies have been discovered within the lake in recent times. There have been at the very least two different instances that occurred in comparable trend related to the Rainey Avenue and downtown leisure space, together with Martin Gutierrez in 2018 and Julio Santos in 2015. Christian Pugh was discovered alive after disappearing following an evening on Rainey Avenue in 2019.
“That is odd, not solely the truth that there can be so many accidents in the identical space that beforehand had none, but additionally the truth that nobody seen,” Jennifer Brazer, who lives close by, mentioned.
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District 9 Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents the world, says there have been momentary lights and fencing put up as a extra everlasting resolution is within the works.
“I’ve already been talking with the mayor and folks right here, I believe we have to simply return and type of huddle once more and see what we will do and type of unravel this, why does this proceed to occur,” he mentioned.
In a Public Security Committee assembly in February, he assured households that work is being achieved to get cameras put in.
“There needs to be lights, there needs to be cameras, there needs to be blue lights the place you may push for assist,” Elsie mentioned.
Metropolis to put in momentary photo voltaic lighting on path close to Rainey St. by March 10
The installment of momentary lighting comes after household and buddies of those that died or had been severely injured close to the Girl Chook Lake Path spoke to members of the Austin Metropolis Council to beg for change.
“I do not suppose sufficient has been achieved. I believe when this occurred to Martin Gutierrez again in 2018, Mitchell [Guiterrez, his brother] actually advocated for lights and cameras and nothing was achieved about it. And now it has been 4 or 5 years later. And so they’re saying that, ‘oh, we want time to do a everlasting infrastructure.’ They’d that point. They’d that point when Mitchell advocated for these cameras and lights and nothing was achieved,” Nisha Parakadavil, John’s buddy, mentioned.
John’s loss of life was dominated unintended, however his mom does not agree with that. She says she’s going to proceed preventing for others to verify this does not occur once more.
“Each one that goes into Girl Chook Lake, you can not simply say it is unintended drowning. There’s something behind. It’s totally clear. You do not must be an APD or an FBI to determine this out primarily based on all these standards, the age of the lads lacking, the timing and the place, you already know, it is simply frequent sense, you already know, so it is time for the town to get up. It is time for the town to do one thing,” she mentioned.
Anybody with any info ought to contact the Austin Police Division at 512-974-TIPS. Chances are you’ll submit your tip anonymously by way of the Capital Space Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477.