Crescent-News.com - Authorities searching for Defiance man who may have jumped into Auglaize River

Eric Flory

The Defiance Police Department and the Defiance County Sheriff's Office are investigating a possible drowning of a rural Defiance man in the Auglaize River.

Law enforcement authorities are investigating a missing persons report stemming from an incident on the river early Tuesday morning.

Authorities were informed Tuesday at about 5 p.m. that Eric Flory, 29, 10026 Dowe Road, was last seen attempting to swim across the Auglaize River just west of the Jefferson Avenue bridge at 2 a.m. that day.

Reportedly with him in the early morning hours was Jorge Tenorio, 29, Defiance.

According to sheriff's deputies, Tenorio allegedly tried to swim across the river as well. He swam only a short distance, but then got out of the water.

As of this morning, law enforcement officers report that nothing has been heard from Flory since that night.

Cadaver search dogs out of Indiana and the Defiance Fire Department are working with both law departments to aid in the search for Flory.

Anyone with information relative to this case is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office at 419-784-1155 or the police department at 419-784-5050.

4.	Posted by lollers April 10, 2008
	Referring to EKW's Comments - This is a terrible tragedy, no more, no less. Pointing fingers and passing blame is not helpful as I am sure EVERYONE involved is absolutely reeling. You say your prayers go out to the Flory Family AND to Jorge Tenorio - yet you sit and cast judgement on the man who you say left a friend behind in the "dark, cold, waters..." - You weren't there, you don't know the circumstances and you have no right to sit in judgement... That aside - my prayers and genuine sympathy go out to everyone involved - Take care.

3.	Posted by CSM April 9, 2008
	Defiance has always been home to me. You see and hear all the support and help that people recieve for different reasons and now we have felt that compassion and community support in this horrible nightmare. We would like to thank everyone for your prayers, for the hugs, for looking for Eric, for all that you have done and we don't even know. Thank you to our Sheriff and his men, Dave Westrick has been a rock, making himself available for any family member that has a queston during this nightmare. The Police Department officers for there quick response and getting everyone that needed involved in this search, the Fire department and for the Volunteer Organization that brought the dogs to find Eric, thank you. Thank you to Jimmy Zeller that did not hesitiate to give his time unconditionally asking nothing in return, only to find Eric, his only goal, unselfishly. To all of you we have not meet yet or even know your names, thank you for your help. Keep the prayers coming and ask Our God for his help to find our Eric. Does any of this makes since, it does not. If you have any information, I beg you to call the SD or PD. From the deepest bottom of my soul, I can't thank you enough. Eric's Family

2.	Posted by EKW April 9, 2008
	I very disturbed by this story...not only for the family and friends of Eric, but how a man could leave a supposed friend in the dark cold waters of the Auglaize River. The swimming took place at 2 a.m. and authorities weren't notified until 5 p.m. the next day. My prayers go out to the Flory family and to Jorge Tenorio. This story is a prime example of how one person's actions might have prevented these horrible circumstances.