Saw this on the 5:30 local news today
FALL RIVER, Mass. -- People were swimming in a Fall River public pool while the body of a woman had been in the pool for 48 hours, investigators said Wednesday.
Authorities identified the woman as Marie Joseph, 36, of Fall River.
According to police, Joseph's body had been in Veteran's Memorial Pool at Lafayette Park since Sunday. Investigators said the body was found by people who were at the pool after it closed at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The pool is operated by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Lifeguards were on duty throughout the day on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, yet police said no one saw the body.
Friends of Joseph told NBC 10 they're angry that her death somehow went unnoticed.
"People were swimming there with a body in there. They didn't find the body until (Tuesday night)," one woman said.
"She can't swim. She told me this like two weeks ago. She can't swim. She said, 'You've got to teach me how to swim, because I can't swim,'" another friend said.
Joseph's friends told NBC 10 they went to the park with her at around 2 p.m. on Sunday, but left without her.
Joseph was watching a neighbor's 9-year-old boy as he went down a waterslide at the pool. Police said she somehow fell down the slide herself, went underwater, and drowned.
"The boy stated that once he was in the water after coming down the slide, Marie unexpectedly slid down the slide landing on top of him. He further stated that she went under the water and did not surface," said Chief Daniel Racine of the Fall River Police Department.
Joseph's friends told NBC 10 that the boy, who was with Joseph, went to a lifeguard for help, but was ignored.
Investigators wouldn't corroborate the boy's story, but said they are talking to everyone involved in the drowning.
"There are interviews going on right now. Exactly who that boy spoke to, and what that person did, and what happened next," said Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter.
The DCR released a statement on Wednesday.
"On behalf of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Marie Joseph," according to a statement from Commissioner Ed Lambert.
"By 5:30 p.m. (Wednesday) all 30 of DCR's deepwater pools will be closed while we conduct a full review of each facility’s safety and operational procedures over the next 24 to 48 hours. As of this hour, the entire staff of the Veteran's Memorial Swimming Pool in Fall River has been placed on administrative leave.
"We will continue to cooperate fully with local and state law enforcement during their ongoing investigation."
Authorities identified the woman as Marie Joseph, 36, of Fall River.
According to police, Joseph's body had been in Veteran's Memorial Pool at Lafayette Park since Sunday. Investigators said the body was found by people who were at the pool after it closed at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The pool is operated by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Lifeguards were on duty throughout the day on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, yet police said no one saw the body.
Friends of Joseph told NBC 10 they're angry that her death somehow went unnoticed.
"People were swimming there with a body in there. They didn't find the body until (Tuesday night)," one woman said.
"She can't swim. She told me this like two weeks ago. She can't swim. She said, 'You've got to teach me how to swim, because I can't swim,'" another friend said.
Joseph's friends told NBC 10 they went to the park with her at around 2 p.m. on Sunday, but left without her.
Joseph was watching a neighbor's 9-year-old boy as he went down a waterslide at the pool. Police said she somehow fell down the slide herself, went underwater, and drowned.
"The boy stated that once he was in the water after coming down the slide, Marie unexpectedly slid down the slide landing on top of him. He further stated that she went under the water and did not surface," said Chief Daniel Racine of the Fall River Police Department.
Joseph's friends told NBC 10 that the boy, who was with Joseph, went to a lifeguard for help, but was ignored.
Investigators wouldn't corroborate the boy's story, but said they are talking to everyone involved in the drowning.
"There are interviews going on right now. Exactly who that boy spoke to, and what that person did, and what happened next," said Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter.
The DCR released a statement on Wednesday.
"On behalf of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, we express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Marie Joseph," according to a statement from Commissioner Ed Lambert.
"By 5:30 p.m. (Wednesday) all 30 of DCR's deepwater pools will be closed while we conduct a full review of each facility’s safety and operational procedures over the next 24 to 48 hours. As of this hour, the entire staff of the Veteran's Memorial Swimming Pool in Fall River has been placed on administrative leave.
"We will continue to cooperate fully with local and state law enforcement during their ongoing investigation."
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