After searching Thursday evening and early Friday morning, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said first responders recovered the body of a drowned fisherman just south of Jordan Lake.

The sheriff’s office issued an alert on Thursday saying search and rescue was dispatched to find a 21-year-old Hispanic man — later identified as Nestor Margarito Ramirez Menjivar of Fayetteville — who fell into the water around 6 p.m. Menjivar was fishing on the rocks below the B. Everett Jordan Dam, which is north of Moncure, when lost his footing, fell into the Haw River and was carried away by the current according to witnesses. Chatham County emergency responders immediately began search efforts, according to Thursday’s release, but were unsuccessful before being suspended for the night.

After search operations restarted Friday morning, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said a drone located Menjivar’s body and he was pulled from the water just before 8 a.m.

“This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our deepest sympathies are with the Menjivar family,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson. “We are grateful to the emergency responders and partner agencies who worked very hard to bring him home.”

The drowning marks the first reported around Jordan Lake so far in 2025, after last summer resulted in three — all of which were in the northern part of the lake compared to the B. Everett Jordan Dam.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office credited several other emergency services groups for helping in Thursday and Friday’s search and recovery efforts for Menjivar. Friday’s update thanked the Moncure Fire Department, Chatham County Emergency Management, Chatham County Emergency Communications, Army Corps of Engineers, FirstHealth EMS, Cape Fear Fire Department, Chatham County Medical Examiner’s Office, N.C. Highway Patrol, and Lee County Emergency Management for assisting.

Among the water safety recommendations law enforcement shared, carefully navigating the area below dams is critical because of their slippery and uneven surfaces. People are encouraged to “exercise extreme caution near all waterways and to wear a life jacket when fishing, boating, or wading near currents,” said the sheriff’s office.

 

Featured image via Chatham County Sheriff’s Office

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Local Soccer Player, East Chapel Hill High Schooler Earns Invite to German Training Camp
Cristian Diaz Perez, a sophomore at East Chapel Hill High School, is hoping to attend an exclusive soccer camp in Germany this summer.
Top Stories of 2025: A Year of Change for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
While the academic calendar goes from July to June, this calendar year for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools was filled with major stories.
CHCCS Competition Cooks up Hands-On Culinary Experience for Local High School Students
CHCCS recently hosted its first-annual high school culinary competition, offering a hands-on cooking experience outside the classroom.
CHCCS Teacher Featured In 'Stranger Things' Final Season
The fifth and final season of the Netflix drama Stranger Things features a familiar face from the Chapel Hill Carrboro community.
Chapel Hill High School to Play in North Carolina Boys' Soccer State Championship Match
The Chapel Hill High School boys’ soccer team is headed to the 7A state championship match after upsetting New Hanover in the state semifinals Tuesday night. The Tigers will play Marvin Ridge High School, one of the two No. 1 seeds in the tournament field, in the championship match Friday in Greensboro. Chapel Hill entered […]
CHCCS Reviews Mixed Initial Student, Teacher Feedback for High School Block Schedule
As Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools enter the second quarter, the district recently gave an update on its new high school block schedule.
Student Fights at East Chapel Hill High School Injure 5 Staff Members; Incidents Under Investigation
A pair of fights between students at East Chapel Hill High School on Friday led to several responding staff injuries and disruption.
Assassination of Charlie Kirk Adds to America’s Roll Call of Public Violence
Written by LISA MASCARO and ALI SWENSON WASHINGTON (AP) — In the tragic roll call of violence in American public life, Charlie Kirk’s name joins what has fast become a long list. The influential 31-year old commentator, who cast his young professional life rousing other young people to embrace or debate his brand of conservatism, was slain doing what he does […]
Chatham County Sheriff: Body of 19-Year-Old Recovered After Drowning at Jordan Lake
The fourth reported fatality at Jordan Lake happened Sunday, as a 19-year-old drowned while swimming in the water near Martha's Chapel Road.
Body of Missing Fisherman Recovered on Friday, Says Chatham County Sheriff's Office
After searching Thursday evening and early Friday morning, the Chatham County Sheriff's Office said first responders recovered the body of a drowned fisherman just south of Jordan Lake.
›