A 1998 Brookfield High School graduate and current New Milford resident was reported missing Tuesday evening, in and around the same time a hiker near Lover’s Leap on Lake Lillinonah reported seeing someone swept away by the currents.
“A hiker heard somebody in distress and heard them go into the water,” and later saw something that looked like a person pass through the gorge, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Capt. Raul Camejo said. A short time later, around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, a woman contacted local police to say her husband did not come home and the search began.
State police and DEEP officials have not yet released the identity of the missing man (a press release is expected Thursday), however friends of Eric Langlois, a New Milford photographer, have taken to social media asking for assistance.
Camejo said the assistance during the search Wednesday was “a great help to us,” as friends and family scoured the shoreline around the lake.
“They searched everything on the shore, which let us concentrate on the water,” he said, adding that with the assistance of K-9 units the hiking trails and shoreline have been thoroughly checked.
Due to heavy rains falling over New England, the water system feeding Lake Lillinonah is overflowing, causing heavy undercurrents and making boat and dive searches dangerous. For the time being, the water search has been postponed until the rains stop and the water level drops.
“Right now, the current is running so fast it’s too dangerous for divers to go in,” Camejo explained. “It’s a safety issue for the divers and a safety issue for the boats.”
Camejo said the search will resume as soon as weather permits, which may not be until Sunday or Monday.
Anyone who has information or sees something should call 9-1-1 immediately, Camejo said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
