Community Corner

Police ID Fairfield Lake Victim [UPDATED]

'You never expect a summer to unfold like this,' Fairfield Lt. James Perez said.

 

[Editor's Note: Following an official press briefing with police Wednesday, some details of the report have been updated.]

Update, 5:31 p.m., July 18

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A memorial page has been set up for Catherine Perez Trujillo of Bridgeport, the 10-year-old girl who drowned in Lake Mohegan Tuesday. Police initially identified the girl as Kathleen Trujillo.

The memorial page, hosted by Funeraria Luz de Paz of Bridgeport, lists service information and an obituary for Trujillo.

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Funeraria Luz de Paz has established a Memorial Donation fund to cover the service and funeral expenses. Those interested in donating should contact the funeral home at 203-330-8081.

Friends and family are encouraged to leave a note of condolence for Trujillo's family or share a memory or photo on the memorial page.

Update, 11 a.m., July 18

A 10-year-old Bridgeport girl died Tuesday shortly after she was pulled from , police said.

Police idenitified the girl Wednesday as Kathleen Trujillo of Iranistan Avenue.

She was underwater for about 45 minutes before divers found her and brought her to shore, according to police. The report initially came in around 7:15 p.m., divers located Trujillo just before 8 p.m.

The girl was transported to Bridgeport Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before 10 p.m.

According to the report, the girl was at Lake Mohegan with three adults, including her mother and aunt, and eight other children.

The girl was reportedly swimming in a no-swim zone when she panicked, department spokesperson Lt. James Perez said.

Her mother attempted to pull the girl onto her back and swim to shore, but the girl panicked again and slipped under, according to Perez.

"Lake waters are extremely deceptive when it comes to depth," Perez said.

The girl had been swimming in an area where the deepest part of the lake reaches 60 feet. Divers found her on a chair-like ledge 10-15 feet under the water's surface, according to the police report.

Dive teams from Fairfield, Westport and Bridgeport responded to the scene, as well as Fairfield fire personnel.

"You never expect a summer to unfold like this; for a mother to watch her daughter disappear is tragic, very sad," Perez said. "We feel for the family. "

Perez recalled an incident that occurred last summer, .

Police Chief Gary MacNamara echoed Perez's comments. "This was a very sad evening here at Lake Mohegan. It's a tragedy of huge proportions."

He added that he was proud of the emergency responders, who "used every means possible when they got here to get her out quickly."

The Monday had closed Lake Mohegan to swimmers due to excessive rainfall amounts from Sunday's storms, and it was not due to reopen officially until Wednesday.

Original Post, 8:30 p.m.

According to various Twitter reports, an unconscious 10-year-old girl was pulled out of Lake Mohegan around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The girl's condition is unknown at this time. 


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