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SALT LAKE CITY — A Colorado woman is suing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a youth leader after her son drowned in a Utah reservoir.
Tory Jones, 17, of St. George, died while on a youth outing at Quail Creek State Park one year ago. The official park report said Jones jumped off a boat about 50 yards from shore, swam to shore and then disappeared.
But a lawsuit obtained by KSL says the boy never made it to shore and other people heard him calling out for help.
Last August, Sand Hollow Complex Park manager Laura Melling said divers found his body 250 feet from the shore in 24 feet of water.
The lawsuit seeks damages against the youth leader for not properly supervising Jones and the LDS church because the death happened during a church activity.
Church spokesman Scott Trotter released the following statement Thursday morning: "This is truly a sad situation and we pray for all those affected by this tragedy. The pending litigation regarding this case makes it inappropriate for us to comment at this time."
