Fred Marsh entered Missouri’s Elk River when his newly engaged fiancée began struggling during a canoeing trip with friends.
ROGERS, Ark. — A 24-year-old Arkansas police officer drowned after entering Missouri’s Elk River to help save his fiancée, only hours after asking her to marry him, according to authorities, his police department and the woman’s family.
Officer Fred Marsh of the Rogers Police Department entered the water July 18 during a canoeing trip near Noel, Missouri. His fiancée, Hailey Lummus, survived after Marsh and another person helped move her toward a boat. Marsh did not resurface and was recovered the following morning, according to reports citing the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The patrol’s incident report said Marsh entered the Elk River near Easy Street to assist a swimmer who was having difficulty. He was pronounced dead at 10:08 a.m. July 19. Authorities classified the incident as a drowning, and no evidence of criminal conduct has been reported.
Lummus’ mother, Sheryl Padgett, identified her daughter as the swimmer Marsh was trying to help. Padgett said Lummus had entered the water while attempting to return to a kayak and began struggling in the current. Another off-duty officer who was on the trip also entered the river to assist her.
Marsh joined the effort after realizing his fiancée was in danger. Lummus was pushed toward a canoe and reached safety, but Marsh became caught in the current and disappeared beneath the water. Others nearby tried to reach him, but he did not come back to the surface, family members told KHBS.
Padgett said Marsh had proposed to Lummus earlier that morning. The couple had been together for about three years and were celebrating with friends when they traveled to the river. Padgett said Marsh had already become a close member of her family before the engagement.
The Rogers Police Department announced Marsh’s death July 19. Police Chief Jonathan Best said the young officer had demonstrated a willingness to serve others and had brought enthusiasm to his work. Best said Marsh had made a positive impression during his brief time with the department.
Marsh was in his first year as a Rogers police officer. He had graduated from the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in April, about three months before his death. The department described him as a respected member of the agency who had shown commitment to public service.
Although Marsh was off duty when the drowning occurred, his department and relatives said his response reflected the same instinct to help others that guided his police work. His cousin, Chris Frye, said Marsh acted without placing his own safety first when he saw another person in danger.
News of Marsh’s death brought tributes from police agencies, first responders and residents across Northwest Arkansas. A motorcade escorted his body through the region July 20. Officers and community members gathered along the route to pay their respects as the procession traveled through Rogers and nearby communities.
Marsh’s family and colleagues remembered him as hardworking, compassionate and excited about his future in law enforcement. Padgett said the loss was especially painful because she had formed a mother-and-son bond with him during his relationship with Lummus.
The drowning occurred along a stretch of the Elk River near Noel, a southwestern Missouri community close to the Arkansas border. Authorities have not publicly released a full account of the water conditions, the safety equipment used by the group or the precise sequence of the recovery operation.
Marsh’s relatives were preparing memorial arrangements as the Rogers Police Department continued assisting his family and fellow officers. A fundraising campaign was also created to help Lummus with expenses following his death.
Author note: Last updated July 23, 2026.