Local father speaks out over son’s drowning at Lake Havasu

The father of 16-year-old Isaiah Benz is speaking out about his son's tragic death over Father's Day weekend. Kris Benz continues to grieve the loss of his only son who drowned on Sunday while swimming at Lake Havasu.

"He loved his sports, he could dunk; 6'2-- so he was tall and very athletic. I went to one of his football games once and he’s a good kid," said Benz.

Isaiah played football for Canoga Park High School in Los Angeles County. Benz, however, lives in Palm Springs and owns a pro shop inside Palm Springs Lanes.

"I'm an avid bowler, got him into bowling. He loves bowling."

Isaiah was supposed to start a summer job at his dad's shop, according to Benz.

"He asked me, 'dad why we don’t have one?' and I promised I’d get him one. I bought (the shop) when I had the opportunity during COVID in July," Benz said.

Unfortunately Isaiah never got to see it. Instead, things took a tragic turn over the weekend.

Benz said Isaiah had gone to Lake Havasu with some relatives and friends, but by Sunday afternoon, something was wrong. He said he received a call from the wife of Isaiah's brother.

"She broke down so I didn’t get a lot of information but I got the jist of it and it hit me like 2 trucks," Benz said.

Investigators said Isaiah and a group of others from Palm Springs and Canoga Park rented a pontoon and at one point got out of the boat to go swimming.

"Due to the high winds, the boat and its group became separated from the 16 year old juvenile, who began struggling in the water. The group boarded their boat in an attempt to retrieve the 16 year old. While the boat was being operated towards the 16 year old, an adult male fell from the back of the boat where he was struck by the propeller. The involved boat was able to retrieve the adult with the propeller laceration, while two more subjects from the boat jumped back in the water, and attempted to swim to the struggling 16 year old," said Mojave County Sheriff's Department officials

The sheriff's department later identified the 'juvenile' as Isaiah.

The two others who jumped into the water to try to save Isaiah nearly drowned themselves and were able to get out of the water.

"When she said the scuba divers had been looking for him, I pretty much made peace on that phone call," Benz said.

That day search teams scoured the area, which included a helicopter and scuba divers. The search was called off at night and resumed Monday morning.

By 10:17 a.m. the next day, Isaiah's body was located "on the lake bottom in the South Basin of Lake Havasu. The sheriff's department said they were able to find the teen's body by using "Side Scan Sonar Technology along with divers in approximately 35 feet of water."

Isaiah's death has left a permanent mark on such a meaningful day, with Benz saying "Father's Day will never be the same."

Isaiah's family is currently making arrangements for Isaiah's funeral in the Coachella Valley.