HOUSTON — A heartbroken family is asking for help to bury their loved ones who drowned in the San Jacinto River on Father's Day.
A body believed to be a missing girl, now identified as Darcy Michelle Chavajay, 14, was recovered late Sunday, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The body of her 38-year-old dad, identified as Santos Otoniel Chavajayas, was recovered Monday morning in about 15 feet of water.
"No podía creer me quede en shock no es cierto. Aun no lo puedo creer," said wife and mother, Dominga Cuz-Chaox.
Dominga said she still is in shock and can't believe it's true.
"Nunca pensé que no iba a regresar nunca," she said.
Dominga said she never imagined her loved ones would never come back home.
She said Otoniel and Michelle had gone to the river with other family and friends. Dominga stayed back with her two little children.
She said as the sun was setting, she was told Michelle asked her dad to take a picture of her in the river.
"Estaba a mitad de lago con los brazos se vino el papa por la desesperación se tiro él y ya nunca salieron," Dominga said.
She said Michelle was walking halfway in the water and had fallen. Her arms were up in the air asking for help. Her dad jumped into the water, but they never made it out.
"Muy alegre se levanta temprano para ir a la escuela es bien disciplinada. Hiba bien alegrea la escual a estudiar," Dominga said.
Dominga said her daughter was just in middle school and dreamed of being a pediatrician. They were also making plans for her quinceañera.
She was very happy, always disciplined and loved going to school, according to Dominga.
Otoniel was the sole provider for the family.
"Un joven trabajador responsible, con mucha disciplina y muy puntual al venir a trabajar," said his brother, Nemias Chavajay.
His brother said he was a very hard-working, responsible man.
As Dominga is praying, she gets the strength to get up in the morning and face this terrible loss as she now has a 3-year-old and an 11-month-old to raise alone.
"Yo se que ellos siempre van a estar siempre nos miran. Van a estar con nosotros hasta el ultimo dia de nuestras vidas," she said.
The family is trying to send Otoniel and Michelle's bodies back to Guatemala and is asking for the community's help. They want to offer Otoniel’s mother and Michelle’s grandmother a chance to say her last goodbye.