Emergency personnel continue search for missing woman at Cumberland Falls

 A third day of efforts Whitley and McCreary County firefighters and other local emergency personnel have failed to recover the woman who went missing after falling into the river near Cumberland Falls Saturday, but she has been identified as 24-year-old Nina Parker of Owensboro.

McCreary County Emergency Management Director Rudy Young said the crews from multiple organizations across McCreary, Whitley, Pulaski, Knott, and Taylor counties, along with state police, and officials from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and Cumberland Falls State Park have participated in the search for Parker that began approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Rescue personnel worked until after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, picking back up about 7 a.m. Sunday and working until about 8 p.m. They were back on the scene again about 7 a.m. today to continue the search.

“More than 100 people have been involved in the effort,” Young said.

The water is fairly shallow with holes throughout that are up to 12 feet deep, Young explained, noting there are multiple variables such as the individual’s weight, what they may have eaten and the temperature of the water, that will determine what will happen to the body once it is in the water for an extended period.

Young said personnel are diving the Cumberland River near the area of Eagle Falls, where Parker was last seen jumping from rock to rock.

Whitley County Emergency Management Directory Danny Moses said a fisherman in the area reported hearing cries for help and ran to the area with two life jackets but was unable to find Parker.

Parker’s  boyfriend and newphew were with her at the time. Moses said it was the boyfriend who called 911.

Young said three to five days is the typical timeframe for such search and recovery efforts.

“There comes a point where you exhaust your resources,” Young said.