Body of Woman Who Jumped Into Icy River Found Holding Dog She Was Trying to Rescue, Family Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Amanda Richmond Rogers.Photo:Amanda Richmond Rogers/Instagram

Amanda Richmond Rogers/Instagram

The body of a woman who tried to save her dog from an icy river was discovered in Anchorage, Alaska, on Sunday, reportsAnchorage Daily News,Alaska News Sourceand theDaily Mail.

Amanda Richmond Rogers, 45, went for a walk along North Fork Eagle River with her husband, Dr. Brian Rogers, in celebration of their 18th wedding anniversary on Dec. 23, 2023. During their walk, one of their two dogs, Groot, fell through the ice on the river, and Richmond Rogers jumped in to save their dog.

Her body was discovered on March 24. Her sister, Jennifer Richmond, shared that Richmond Rogers had Groot in her arms once found, noting that Richmond Rogers' family said, “She really did die a hero.”

Amanda Richmond Rogers.Amanda Richmond Rogers/Instagram

At the time of the incident, Rogers noticed their dog, Groot, fell into the ice. Rogers, 49, quickly went into the river to search for their pet, but once he couldn’t locate Groot, he headed back to the surface. Once he came up, Richmond Rogers jumped into the water to rescue their dog.

“I knew from the look on her face she was going in to save our dog,” said Rogers, perAnchorage Daily News. He yelled for his wife not to go in, and once she was under the ice, she vanished.

“Amanda loved her dogs nearly as much as our kids, they were our family,” said Rogers. He explained that his wife “did not jump in to save ‘just a dog,’ it was a family member.”

The pair shared four sons: Leif Thurmond, who is in his 20s, teenagers Liam Rogers and August Rogers, as well as 10-year-old Bodhi Rogers.

Stock image of Alaska.Getty

Getty

Earlier in March, Richmond Rogers' family, friends and colleagues hosted acelebration of life.

“Do as Mom did and leave this earth with no regrets,” said Leif, perAlaska News Source.“Mom was such a unique, special person that God couldn’t wait any longer to see her in heaven, and I don’t blame him,” added Liam.

“She would take Dad, her sons and her dogs over anything in the world, her identity, I don’t care, anything,” said Bodhi. Her third son, August, added, “Coming together to make light of this dark situation would bring tears to her eyes because we won’t look at how much time we didn’t get with her, but all the time we did.”

Additionally, her fellow nursing coworkers held a Nightingale ceremony to honor Richmond Rogers' dedication to saving lives as an emergency room and pediatric hospice nurse.

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Representatives for the Anchorage Police Department and Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Friday.

source: people.com