Grieving mom of drowned tot thanks searchers, public for support

The mother of a 4-year-old boy whose body was recovered from the Weber River after an extensive, two-week search has expressed her appreciation for the efforts of volunteers and support and prayers of friends and strangers during her family's ordeal.

Corbin Anderson, of Layton, fell into the river on April 28 during a family photo outing. His body was found on May 13, about a quarter-mile downstream from where he went into the surging, runoff-swollen waters. More than 100 volunteer searchers — working along the banks of the Weber, in boats and including scuba divers — had looked for the little boy.

Upstream flows from reservoirs also were temporarily lowered to assist in the effort. The boy's body was spotted 6 to 8 inches under the water, in an area where river levels have dropped about two feet as result of the restricted flow.

In a letter published Monday in the Standard-Examiner newspaper, the boy's mother, Melanie Anderson, also shared details of the incident not previously reported — including that the boy did not slip, but jumped into the river without warning.

Anderson wrote that, "Corbin and his big brother were posing for pictures on a large rock near the water, [and] my husband Brian, myself, and another adult were right next to them. Corbin decided to jump in the water. He jumped; he did not fall. We had no idea the water was so rapid and deep. Brian, jumped in immediately, but was unable to reach him in the rapid water.

"We waited for 15 days for his body to be found, and we never gave up. We knew he would be found. We are so grateful to so many people for their support during this difficult time. Thank you to Weber, Davis and Summit County Search and Rescue, UHP, the Red Cross, the construction company that moved the river for our baby. Thanks go to Whitesides Elementary for their amazing support of our older son, Clearfield Job Corps employees, Layton family medicine employees and Hill Air Force Base employees, A special thanks to Jack Price for bringing our baby home, Brandon Toll for his amazing efforts to locate Corbin, and Nicole Houchins for keeping our older son safe.

"Thank you all our friends and family and everyone who prayed for us. We hope one day to be able to help someone the way we have been helped."

— Bob Mims