Springfield, MO Fire Department

Victims identified in water search and rescue effort; one remains missing

On June 14, 2026, at 4:30 p.m., the Springfield Fire Department (SFD) Water Rescue Team and officers with the Springfield Police Department (SPD), responded to Lake Springfield to the report of four people in need of rescue.

The SFD rescued 12-year-old Aurelie Stawny from the waters of the spillway below the dam. Aurelie was transported to the hospital and has since been released. In the process of rescuing Aurelie, three members of SFD’s Water Rescue Team were injured and transported to the hospital and have also been released.

On June 16, 2026, search teams located the body of 19-year-old Andrea Stawny approximately a quarter of a mile downriver from the dam. On June 17, 2026, search teams located the body of 17-year-old Sofie Stawny near the dam. Andrea and Sofie’s family have been notified.

Comprehensive search efforts will resume tomorrow to look for 40-year-old Taylor Stawny, who is still missing. More than 40 rescuers from multiple local agencies searched on land, in the water and by air, to include assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s dive team as well as SFD and SPD’s drone units.

Through the investigation, it was determined that Aurelie, Andrea, Sofie and Taylor were in a kayak and two inflatable tubes that were connected at the time of the incident. Further circumstances of this incident remain part of an ongoing investigation.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., search crews located and recovered the second of the three victims in Sunday’s Lake Springfield incident.

Members of the Springfield Fire Department water and technical rescue teams, along with resources from the Battlefield, Logan-Rogersville, and Ozark fire protection districts, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Springfield Police Department, and volunteer search K9s resumed search and recovery efforts early Wednesday morning.

Search crews will continue recovery efforts throughout the day, Fire Chief David Pennington said.

Water Rescue Team photo not from this incident.

The Springfield Fire Department will conduct a live news briefing at 2 p.m. at the Greene County Public Safety Center, 330 W. Scott, to provide an update on recovery efforts at Lake Springfield. Three people remain missing after a high-water incident Sunday. One juvenile was rescued and remains hospitalized. The news briefing will be live streamed on CityView.springfieldmo.gov and on the Fire Department’s page. South Kissick Avenue is now closed to facilitate ongoing work by responders.