NORTH MANCHESTER, IN- On Dec. 21, 2025, at approximately 8:52 p.m., officers with the North Manchester Police Department responded to a possible deceased individual in the Eel River in the area of State Road 114 and River Road. Upon arrival the Officers found an individual male deceased in the river.
Upon further investigation, the male was identified as Jorge Antonio Hernandez-Gutierrez age 19.
On the night of Saturday, Dec, 20, 2025, for unknown reasons, Jorge left his residence in North Manchester and entered the Eel River where he perished.
An autopsy was performed on Jorge and the cause of death was determined to be drowning and hypothermia with cocaine and ethanol toxicity.
At this time the investigation is closed.
The North Manchester Police Department was assisted by: North Manchester Fire Department, Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana State Police, Indiana Conservation Office, Chester Fire Department, Pleasant Fire Department, Parkview Ambulance Service, Wabash County Coroner’s Office, Wabash County EMA, and the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center.
