On Sunday September 3, 2017 at approximately 5pm, 38 year old Corprice N. Thomas was last seen by her aunt actively swimming with the current of the Lower Salt River downstream from Blue Point Bridge. The aunt lost sight of Corprice after being carried around a bend in the river by the current.
Prior to entering the water to swim, Corprice had left her two children and the tube she was sharing with them near the shoreline. Corprice is known to be a strong swimmer and has floated the Salt River multiple times. It is unknown why she left her children on the shoreline. The aunt was able to float to Bus Stop 4 and exit the river, to meet with Corprice’s children. Family members searched for Corprice during the remainder of the trip, but were not able to locate her.
Upon exiting the river, at about 7:00 p.m., the aunt contacted the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and reported Corprice as missing. The area where Corprice was last seen was searched utilizing Lake Patrol watercraft and with the assistance of the MCSO helicopter. The search was suspended for the night and resumed the following morning.
On the morning of September 4, a body was recovered from the Lower Salt River in the area where Corprice Thomas was last observed swimming the previous day. Divers from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol Search and Recovery Dive Team located the decedent in approximately ten feet of water, at 8:11 a.m..
The decedent was wearing clothing which matched the description given of Corprice Thomas’s clothing. An external body exam was conducted on the recovered decedent and no obvious signs of trauma were found. The decedent was subsequently conveyed to the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office for further investigation.
Identification will be confirmed by the Medical Examiner’s Office. At this point foul play does not appear to be a factor. This case will remain open pending MCSO investigation and the investigation by the Medical Examiner’s Office.