NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard is assisting the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office search for a woman who went missing on the Bogue Chitto River near Franklinton, Sunday.
Missing is Melanie Borja, 22.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Mobile received a call that Borja jumped off her tube and started swimming. Borja was last seen swimming about half way down the Bogue Chitto River. She was wearing a two-piece bathing suit with a white top and blue bottom. Borja has red hair and is 125-lbs.
The Coast Guard and Washington Parish sheriffs are currently searching an area of five miles in the vicinity of the Bogue Chitto river.
Search-and-rescue resources deployed are:
- One Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew;
- One Washington Parish sheriff’s office boatcrew.
The Coast Guard recommends all boaters and water enthusiasts wear a life jacket at all times on the water.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Melanie Borja, contact Coast Guard Sector New Orleans at 504-365-2209, or Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-839-3434.