Michigan man drowned at Turkey Run State Park

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 9:03 AM

By Paul Gable

An investigation centered around a Saturday evening drowning at Turkey Run State Park has wrapped up and officials have identified the victim.

According to Indiana DNR officers, Maximo Disla-Garcia, 56, of Wyoming, Michigan, was the person who drowned in Sugar Creek near the suspension bridge at Turkey Run State Park.

Officers received a call shortly after 7:30 p.m. of a possible drowning and an investigation by Indiana Conservation Officers determined that Disla-Garcia entered the water around 7:30 p.m. near the suspension bridge to assist a young girl struggling in the strong current. Witnesses reported that he was swept downstream into a strainer of rocks and debris, where he was pulled under and did not resurface.

The girl was able to self rescue and was unharmed, however, efforts to save Disla-Garcia were unsuccessful, as he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Parke County Coroner's office.