DALLAS — On Easter Sunday, 21-year-old Juan Ruben Chel Botzec and 18-year-old Edin Oswaldo Yat Choc wanted to celebrate Easter with loved ones at California Crossing Park.
However, an unsettling turn of events led to tragedy after both men disappeared into the Trinity River.
“We came here to work hard we came here to have a better life and we were never thinking of losing our life here” an advocate of the family told WFAA on Saturday.
A press conference was held Saturday afternoon where police spoke about the recovery and family for both of the victims spoke publicly.
"It's been a heavy week, but it's also now a day of relief that these two young men were found and recovered," Dallas Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Albert Martinez said. "I know the relatives were out here every night as well as our officers."
Both men, originally from Guatemala, were not experienced swimmers.
“They were here for a picnic. One of the individuals went to try to clean a grill. He slipped into the water, and the second individual attempted to rescue him,” said local advocate Carlos Quintanilla.
However, the current pulled the young men away, and it would be days before their bodies were found.
On Thursday, Dallas police confirmed the discovery of one of the victims about 100 yards south of the spillway. Investigators say they discovered the second victim the following day, just a short distance away.
Martinez said the families of both men can now have peace and tranquility and can begin their process of mourning and returning their bodies to their village in Guatemala.
Kendra Jimenez had been helping the families to recover the bodies since Monday, and said she would have never expected to be here helping the community.
"They're the most humble, respectful, calm community of people that I have ever met in my life," Jimenez said. "We don't want anyone to suffer. We want to do soemthing in regards to preventing another loss."
Jimenez said they are going to do everything they can to prevent anyone else from drowning in that area of the Trinity River.
Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue say they got a 911 call at about 3:30 p.m. on April 9 for a water rescue in the 1600 block of California Crossing Road in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Northwest Dallas.
According to officials, Botzoc and Choc went in the water and had not been seen since.
On April 13, Dallas police said the body of one of the victims was recovered approximately 100 yards south of the spillway. In another update on Saturday, April 15, police said the body of the second victim was recovered approximately a quarter mile from the spillway on April 14 just before 10 p.m.
WFAA spoke with family of the two men, who they say were having a family picnic at the park on that Easter Sunday.
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