Search Becomes Recovery Operation After Elderly Woman Goes Missing in Potomac River Near Shark Tooth Island
ST. MARY’S COUNTY, Md. — An extensive multi-agency search is underway after a 70-year-old woman reportedly disappeared in the Potomac River near Shark Tooth Island on Monday afternoon.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the area at approximately 2:25 p.m. following reports of a possible drowning near Shark Tooth Island, a popular fossil-hunting destination along the Potomac River. Law enforcement agencies were first called to the scene shortly after 2:00 p.m., prompting a large-scale search involving multiple jurisdictions.
Responding agencies include units from St. Mary’s County, Charles County, Maryland State Police Trooper 7, and Westmoreland County, Virginia, all of whom have been coordinating efforts to locate the missing woman.
Authorities said search crews spent hours combing the river and surrounding shoreline. As the operation continued into the afternoon, officials transitioned their efforts from an active rescue mission to a recovery operation after the elderly woman was presumed dead based on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Recovery teams have begun setting up specialized equipment and resources as they continue searching the water for the victim.
Officials have not yet released the identity of the woman, pending notification of her family. The exact circumstances leading to the drowning remain under investigation, and authorities have not indicated whether weather, water conditions, or any other factors contributed to the incident.
The Potomac River, particularly around Shark Tooth Island, is a popular destination for boaters, kayakers, and fossil hunters. Authorities frequently remind visitors to wear properly fitted life jackets and exercise caution while navigating the river, where changing currents and water depths can pose serious hazards.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information is expected to be released as search and recovery efforts continue.