Real Voices
Louisville teen 13-year-old Derrick Saunders Jr. drowns in Ohio River
13-year-old Derrick Saunders Jr. tragically drowned in the Ohio River while swimming with family in Louisville; the community mourns his loss.
Tragedy struck as 13-year-old Derrick Saunders Jr., drowned in the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisville teen drowns on the Ohio River
On Monday, June 23, Derrick was swimming with his twin sister and family when a strong current pulled him under. The others made it out safely. Unfortunately, Derrick did not.
Rescue teams searched for two days. They found his body about a mile downstream on Wednesday, June 24.
Derrick’s mother, Lakesha Saunders, shared her heartbreak: “Between surgeries I tried to love him to life. And I got to keep him for another 13 years.”
Remembering Derrick Saunders Jr
Derrick was known for his humor and kindness. He was the only boy in a house full of girls. “He looked out for us,” his mother said.
The community has raised funds to support the family. A memorial was held at the riverbank. Balloons were released in Derrick’s honor.
His mother urges parents to choose safer places to swim. “Go where there’s a lifeguard,” she said. “It doesn’t have to feel dangerous to be dangerous.”
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine®
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Ole Miss Black students speak out after viral video shows white women making monkey noises outside their apartment
Remembering Toukie Smith: ‘227’ actress and trailblazing model dies at 74 after multiple sclerosis battle
Kendra G returns to host Season 2 of OWN’s Dating Download, premiering Nov. 18
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles returns to Wilmington with live hip-hop soundtrack at Cucalorus Film Festival
Shirley Emehelu makes history as New Jersey’s first immigrant Lieutenant Governor
North Carolina A&T, UNC Greensboro and Bennett students march nearly an hour after campus voting sites removed
Operation Christmas Child will open drop‑off locations across the U.S
Baltimore artist MIDDEKO releases new single “FALLINLUV”
OWN for the Holidays returns with new movies
New Jersey woman who outsmarted serial killer and escaped in 2016 dies at 44
Woody Shaw’s Avant‑Garde ‘Song of Songs’ returns to vinyl after 50 years through Jazz Dispensary’s Top Shelf Series
Kansas City’s Copper Boyz Ranch provides youth violence‑prevention through horsemanship
Nolan Wells’ family demands ‘thorough’ investigation: “What we’ve been told does not make sense”
Peabo Bryson, Grammy‑winning voice behind two Disney classics, dies at 75
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
-
Sports2 weeks agoJay-z’s Roc Nation Sports to reportedly send 3‑year‑old soccer phenom to Spain for training
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoFamily of slain Bronx teen Javits Frimpong demands justice after fatal shooting
-
Culture1 week agoBurger King employee wears Blackface, tells customer, “I just want to be Black”
-
Police1 week agoVirginia mother loses her car after police mistake her vehicle for shooting suspect’s using flock cameras
-
Sports1 week agoFort Lewis football player Jordan ‘JT’ Thomas suffers severe spinal cord injury during game
-
Police1 week agoSuspected arson damages Senatobia Police headquarters months after officer fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley
-
In Memoriam1 week agoThe Rude Boys founding member Melvin ‘Boy Baby’ Sephus dies at 61
-
Health & Wellness1 week agoTikTok star Marcel Johnson dies at 32 after courageous battle with stage 4 stomach cancer