Body of Arizona Diver Remains Elusive Nearly 15 Years After Disappearance

MORRISTOWN, Ariz. — Nearly 15 years after his disappearance, the body of Tim Borger, a scuba diver, remains submerged in Lake Pleasant. Borger went missing while diving in October 2010, having separated from his group at the Old Waddell Dam, one of the lake’s deepest spots at over 250 feet.

“He’s still somewhere here on the dam, but likely never to be discovered again,” said Forrest Packenbush, a local dive tour operator.

The Old Waddell Dam, originally constructed in the 1920s as the longest concrete arch dam globally, has since been largely submerged due to the creation of a new earthen dam in the 1980s. Engineers had to blast a breach in the old structure to manage the lake’s flow as it filled.

The dam has attracted scuba divers over the years, with some areas accessible while others reach extreme depths laden with debris, old electrical infrastructure, and hazardous materials. Technical divers have captured video of the underwater remnants, revealing large concrete pieces and sunken hazards.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team launched over 60 search missions for Borger’s body. Despite employing cadaver dogs and underwater rovers, the search yielded no results.

“We believe he likely ended up in one of the big holes in the debris,” said Sgt. Jason Gilchrist of the MCSO Dive Team. “He’s the only victim we haven’t been able to recover for the family.”

As time has passed, the increasing silt accumulation at the lake bottom has diminished the chances of recovery. “He’s not to be recovered,” Packenbush remarked, emphasizing the likely permanence of Borger’s resting place beneath the murky depths.