Yahoo News Bodies of Missing Father and Son Found 24 Days After They Disappeared While Kayaking on Spring Break Trip
“Our heart goes out [to] the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure,” police said in a statement
The bodies of a father and son who went missing while kayaking together on a spring break trip in Arkansas last month have been found.
Chuck Morris, a percussionist for the jam band Lotus, and his 20-year-old son Charley, were reported missing on Mar. 16, when they went out kayaking in Beaver Lake, but never returned, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
On Sunday, following "24 days of recovery efforts," police announced that the bodies of both Chuck and Charley had been recovered.
In their statement, police said that they relied on "resources from across the nation," and that Saturday's search utilized underwater robotics systems "in a challenging environment that exceeded depths of 180'."
"Sheriff Holloway, along with the family of Chuck and Charley, would like to thank all the men and women who donated their time and efforts," police said. "Our heart goes out [to] the family of Chuck and Charley Morris and we are thankful today that we can help bring closure."
Weeks before their bodies were found, Chuck and Charley's family shared that the search had transitioned into a recovery mission.
As of Mar. 21, five days after the pair were reported missing, their family said in a statement that all parties involved "are in agreement as to the fate and probable location of Chuck and Charley."
"The weather and other elements created a perfect storm on the lake, and in the lake, that was unsurvivable," the family wrote in the statement shared on a GoFundMe page.
"As a family, we are deeply grieving but have been heartened by all the love and tributes that have been sent our way for Chuck and Charley," their statement continued, as they asked that people "continue supporting the Lotus community that was Chuck's passion, and the Ohio Wesleyan University community that Charley dearly loved."
RELATED VIDEO: 5 Dead After Early Morning Tornado Hits Missouri Where Search-and-Rescue Efforts Are Still Underway
Jennifer Thompson previously told ABC News that her family went on vacation together after her husband Chuck returned home from a tour and their son Charley was home from college.
Although there were strong currents and waves on Mar. 16, Thompson told the outlet "we thought it would be a good idea for Chuck and Charley to be able to get on the kayaks before a storm hit."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
When she and their 12-year-old daughter returned from a trip into town later that day and the pair weren't home, she told ABC News she initially thought they must be "having a great time." However, as more time passed by, she went to the lake to try and find them, and when she couldn't, that's when she contacted police.
"What saved me from the beginning of this is that they died together; they were together," she told the outlet.
Related:Wisconsin Mom Dies in Car Crash Hours After Attending Husband's Funeral: 'She Is with Him'
On Sunday morning, hours before police shared that both bodies had been recovered, the family released a statement, saying they had been informed that Charley's body had been found, but that police were "still actively searching for Chuck."
"Our family was informed by the Benton County Sheriff's Office that Charley Morris has been found," they wrote, in a message shared on GoFundMe as well as the social media pages for Lotus. "We have concluded the cause of his death was drowning."
Lotus has announced they will host four benefit concerts to honor their late percussionist and his son. "These special concerts will celebrate the lives of Chuck and Charley with 100% of the net proceeds going directly to the Morris family," they wrote.
"We were all hoping for a miracle," the band wrote in a previous statement. "While we are deeply grieving, we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charley's lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people. Thank you to all who have reached out with fond words, stories, emotional and financial support."
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
