Teens Missing in Icy Waters of Budd Lake, Prosecutor Says

Two teens remained missing Monday night after multiple agencies searched the icy waters of Budd Lake for hours, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said.

The search was expected to continue as conditions allowed through the night, Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said.

"There were multiple calls yelling for help," from the lake, Knapp said. "Two local residents attempted to make a rescue in their own boat but were unable."

Mt. Olive Police Cpl. Eric Anthony confirmed the search had yet to yield any results as of about 9 p.m., contradicting an earlier report that one person had been rescued.

"Nobody was removed from the lake," Anthony said. "Incorrect info originally reported."

An earlier report from NJ.com said an individual was removed from the lake at about 7 p.m.

Authorities began to search the area of the lake off Sand Shore Road and Budd Avenue after the initial call came in at 6:19 p.m., Knapp said.

"We're very grateful to our police, fire, and rescue members and those from neighboring towns that came to help," Mt. Olive Mayor Robert Greenbaum. "This is a terrible thing to have to deal with situations with families who have children that are missing."

Just a block from where first responders where entering the lake sits Pavilion Lounge, a bar frequented by locals who were at the watering hole at the time calls came in.

Bartender Christine Stanat said residents told her they heard the teens screaming from the water.

"One of them told me they were screaming 'Help, help, don't let me die,'" Stanat said.

Patrons of the bar said there had been ice fisherman on the lake over the weekend, but said no signs on the conditions or depth of the ice have been posted during the winter for years.

Budd Lake is a natural body of water, Greenbaum said, and is not guarded in any way.

This is a developing story. Patch will continue to update as information becomes available.