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15-Year-Old’s Body Found in Lake Michigan

Posted at 8:44 PM, Jul 21, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-21 23:00:48-04

MUSKEGON, Mich.- Rescue crews recovered the body of 15-year-old Rochelle Jenkins, Sunday.   Rochelle went missing Friday while swimming with her sister at Pere Marquette Park.

“They were just standing on foot and they got this rip current that carried them out and pulled them under,” Rochelle’s father Don Jenkins told us.

A woman was able to save Rochelle’s sister who was out in the water with her.  Crews were unable to recover Rochelle’s body Friday and Saturday so Don says he slept on the beach.

“I stayed out here all night on the beach,” he said.

Sunday, crews found Rochelle’s body, but Don says more should have been done.

“It took like 30 minutes for someone to get out here with a boat,” he said “I feel like there should be a lifeguard on deck at this beach so this doesn’t happen anymore.”

“I don’t want anyone else’s child to have to go through this ever again,” he said.

Family and friends questioned why there aren’t buoys out on the water.  That’s a decision made by the city of Muskegon who owns the beach.