Featured photo: 6-year-old Tahj Evans
Written by Tanya Terry
The body of a 6-year-old girl, Tahj Evans, who had been missing in the Flint River for almost a week, was finally recovered around 10:15 a.m. Saturday May 4, according to Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
The young girl fell into the river around the 1900 block of Court Street while playing with her siblings. She was quickly whisked downstream by the current – just a day after a 7-year-old boy had drowned in the river.
The search for Evans started at Ballenger Highway and Sunset Blvd, which is near McLaren Hospital.
A sergeant actually saw Evans in the distance with a little pink shirt previously.
She was finally found just south of the Ballenger Bridge, behind McLaren.
“We found her,” said Swanson on May 4. “Baby Tahj has been recovered…”
According to Swanson, the Flint City Police was working with the family directly, making sure their needs were met.
He said a number of people came from across the state to make the recovery happen, with many of them staying in hotels. Dive teams came from the east side of the state, to all the way from Bay County.
Swanson thanked Captain Rick Conkright, Sergeant Scott Mangrum and the Southeast Dive Team, divers from the Ohio border, the Detroit Police and the Michigan State Police. He also thanked volunteers and people who brought their dogs, as well as “everything that was brought to the scene to make sure the rescuers could stay sharp.”
“You did it because you have a heart,” stated Swanson.
He again thanked everyone for their efforts.
“It’s a tragedy nonetheless, but it brought this community together.”
