Man trying to rescue dogs dies in icy pond

A Greenwood man appeared to be trying to save his dogs when he fell through ice and died Tuesday in Johnson County.

Brian Persinger, 43, was visiting a vacant home his family is selling in the 5400 block of East 350 North in eastern Johnson County when he fell into an ice-covered pond sometime between 12:30 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to a police report.

Investigators think Persinger, the owner of Persinger Roofing in downtown Greenwood, fell through the thin ice while he tried to rescue his two dogs, Sheriff Doug Cox said.

When texts and phone calls from family members went unanswered, Persinger's wife, Jamie, went to look for her husband. Her husband's truck was at the vacant house, but she could not find him or the dogs. Jamie Persinger called police at 9:38 p.m.

A deputy arrived and found footprints leading to the pond behind the house.

Cold weather deaths rise as temperatures plummet

Divers from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resources searched the pond and recovered Persinger's body, police said.

The dogs were not found. Cox said conditions were too dangerous to continue the search.

"It was a very dangerous dive to recover the victim’s body," Cox said in a email. "This is a terrible tragedy, and our condolences are with his family.

"This is one of those incidents that we hate to see happen, but it is important for the public to know that there are people who put their lives on the line in some very dangerous situations for them to have closure."

Call IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at (317) 444-2701. Follow him on Twitter: @vicryc.