UPDATE 10:05 AM July 21st, 2022: The body found by investigators has been identified as 30-year-old Kristian Garcia Cruz.

Temple police are investigating after officers and game wardens retrieved first a car, then a man's body from the water at Temple Lake Park Wednesday.

Nohely Mackowiak with the City of Temple reports that officers were dispatched to the park at Lake Belton at 9:09 AM in response to a white Nissan Versa having been spotted under the water.

The vehicle was recovered around 11:30 AM, and no one was found inside. At the time, police reported that divers with Temple Fire & Rescue did not locate anyone under the water in the surrounding area.

 

KLTD-FM logo
Get our free mobile app

However, police were later alerted to another concern regarding the area while officers were trying to discover how the car ended up submerged.

"During the investigation, Temple Police were notified that the owner of the vehicle had not been heard from for several hours," Mackowiak wrote in a news release. "Out of an abundance of caution, the Temple Police Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife used a sonar scanner to survey a larger area of the lake. During this search, officers located and retrieved a deceased male that was submerged under water."

At the time of writing, the man whose body was found had not been identified. His remains were sent for an autopsy, and officials were waiting until notification of the person's next of kin before releasing his identity.

Police did not say if they suspect foul play, but anyone who may have information about the incident is encouraged to call the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.

Texas 6 Most Wanted Fugitives

Take precaution and familiarize yourself with the following faces. These criminals are currently listed in the Texas 10 Most Wanted

Texas Crime Statistics By City

Check to see how crime compares in your city versus elsewhere.

The Top 10 Worst Places to Live in Texas

While it's always a good idea to know about areas with the lowest crime rates and best recreational opportunities when you are looking for a place to live, it’s also important to know which places to avoid. Even if you move to a neighborhood with a low crime rate, you could also be close to less safe communities.

Here are the top 10 worst places to live in Texas according to moneyinc.com.

Only 6 Women Are On Death Row In Texas. Here's A Look At Their Crimes.

**This story has been updated to reflect the current status of Melissa Lucio, who is scheduled to be executed on April 27th, 2022.**

**UPDATE 4/25/22: An appeals court has delayed the Texas execution of Melissa Lucio so a lower court can review her case.



Texas has the most active death chamber nationwide.

Currently, four inmates are scheduled for execution in 2022, including Melissa Lucio. She is the only woman on the current schedule.

The six women on death row in Gatesville, Texas have been incarcerated for an average of almost two decades. Continue scrolling to see their stories.

More From KLTD-FM