El Paso woman who drowned boating on California lake remembered as sparkling mom of 3 kids
LAKE TAHOE, California — Family members on Tuesday described an El Paso woman who drowned in California's Lake Tahoe as a sparkling mother of three children who was enjoying the weekend with her boyfriend and his children.
The companion, whose name has not been disclosed by authorities, dove into the water to try to rescue 30-year-old Daisy Rogers, but failed. Rescuers pulled him from the lake and rushed him to a hospital for hypothermia.
Rogers was found in the water and later declared dead at a hospital. Her three children were ages 3, 5 and 13.
Rescuers located all six children on the drifting boat — the older ones on the deck to keep watch after moving the younger ones below deck to keep warm, said Eric Guevin, fire marshal with the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District.
He said a 911 call came in from someone who had heard the children's calls for help.
Rogers likely went into shock from the cold water, which was around 60 degrees, he said. Unlike her companion, Rogers was not wearing a life jacket.
“The life jacket saved that gentleman’s life; that’s the biggest message we can give," said Guevin. “He was not coordinated enough and he didn’t have the muscle strength because of that cold water. He was totally reliant on that vest to keep him afloat."
While authorities said Rogers had lived in El Paso, her foster mother, Cheri Monize, said Rogers grew up in Monterey County along California's coast and was moving back to the state.
Monize said Rogers, who joined her family when she was 15, was kind and loving, thoughtful about their birthdays and wild about the beach and horses. Rogers trained as an emergency medical technician.
“We loved her very, very much and we loved her children dearly," said the heartbroken Monize.
Her children will go to live with their fathers, Monize said.
Her boating companion was the father of two of the six children on board the boat. One child was a neighbor.
Lake Tahoe straddles California and Nevada and is a popular spot for sun and snow sports.
