By Rozanna M. Martinez and Maggie Ybarra
The Albuquerque Journal
RIO RANCHO, N.M. — For five days, authorities searched the bosque by land, air and water for a missing Rio Rancho teen.
They endured mosquito bites, sunburns and scratches from thorny brush and trees.
But that was the least of their concerns.
“Knowing there was a lost little boy in the river was difficult to take,” Rio Rancho police spokesman John Francis said Wednesday. “There’s something you want to do to help the family.”
Hayes, 13, had been swimming in the river last week with his brother and friends when he was swept away by a current near the River’s Edge III subdivision in Rio Rancho. His body was found Tuesday just north of the Alameda bridge trapped under a tree branch.
“It’s harder when you become close with the family and try to give them comfort,” Francis said. “It took an emotional and physical toll on me. Seeing the other officers on ATVs and standing on the command posts, you could see the emotion on their faces.”
Francis said he and Albuquerque police Chief Ray Schultz broke the news to Hayes’ father and two brothers that Hayes’ body had been found.
“That was tough; we wanted days earlier to give them better news,” Francis said.
He said finding the boy’s body gave closure to Rio Rancho police who helped with the search.
“I know it also brought closure to this family that he was found and not lost out there,” Francis said. “The family can have some peace. Knowing the family has peace of mind gives us peace of mind.”
‘You could see their emotion’
Rio Rancho Fire Rescue Capt. Jimmy Defillippo said the incident was “tough all around.”
“You get a personnel attachment that makes it tough,” Defillippo said. “It was a relief Corbin was found, but it was not the outcome we wanted. It’s a relief that the boy can be put to rest.”
He said firefighters are grieving along with the family.
Albuquerque fire Chief Robert Ortega said AFD crews who helped free Hayes’ body from tree branches did it with “dignity.”
“They cradled him so he would not be damaged anymore,” Ortega said. “They held him in their arms and got him into the stretcher. You could see their emotion — it was very evident.”
Rio Rancho Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Richard Doty said it was particularly hard on those with children.
Finding Hayes was only the most recent tragedy Albuquerque police have had to endure.
The remains of 11 women and a fetus were unearthed February in the Far Southwest Mesa.
Last month, 3-year-old Ty Toribio was allegedly fatally smothered by his mother and buried in a Northeast Albuquerque playground.
Hayes’ body was found Thursday by a volunteer walking the riverbank, Schultz said.
“In the case of searching on the riverbank, any time we would move the brush and foliage aside, it was stressful,” Schultz said. “You don’t know what you are going to see.
“It was the same at 118th Street (where the 11 women were found) — when they brought in the front loader and it moved the dirt, we didn’t know what we would find,” he said.
Raft race in Hayes’ honor
Albuquerque officials have rescheduled the Great Race Down the Rio Grande for Saturday in honor of Hayes. The race will coincide with Hayes’ funeral that day.
A memorial service will be held for Hayes about 9:30 a.m. Saturday after the rafts take their place in the race.
Pete Denelli, Albuquerque’s chief public safety officer, said during a news conference Wednesday that Hayes’ father was emotional but pleased by the dedication.
"(Hayes’ father) said that without a doubt that ... his son will be looking down upon it with a big smile on his face,” Denelli said. "(Hayes) loved the river and (his father) thought it was important for us to go forward with the race itself.”
More than 500 rafts have registered for the race.
“Corbin Hayes will be remembered by family and friends for his competitive drive to always be the best, but most importantly Corbin’s incredible smile,” family friend Rebecca Bruere said on behalf of the family.
Ceremony planned
A ceremony in honor of Corbin Hayes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Rancho High School gym, 301 Loma Colorado.
A procession will immediately follow the ceremony to the burial site at Daniels Family Funeral Services at 4310 Sara Rd SE in Rio Rancho.
Following the funeral, a reception will be held at the Rio Rancho High School cafeteria. Food and refreshments will be served.
Copyright 2009 Albuquerque Journal