Fact Check: Three men jumped into a waterfall and did not resurface.

Fact Check: "Three men jumped into a waterfall and did not resurface."

What We Know

On June 19, 2025, three men jumped into the water at Rattlesnake Falls in Soda Springs, California, and did not resurface. The Placer County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the men were part of a group of six hikers who jumped into the water but failed to reappear. The remaining three hikers contacted emergency services using a satellite phone around 3 p.m. after their companions did not return (New York Times, Fox Weather). The search for the missing men was complicated by challenging terrain and hazardous water conditions, which included strong currents and poor visibility due to debris (NBC News, USA Today).

After several days of searching, the bodies of the three men were recovered on June 23, 2025. They were identified as Matthew Schoenecker, Valentino Creus, and Matthew Anthony. The specific causes of their deaths are still under investigation (NBC Chicago, Fox Weather).

Analysis

The claim that "three men jumped into a waterfall and did not resurface" is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Placer County Sheriff's Office provided official statements confirming the incident and the subsequent recovery of the bodies. The reports from the New York Times, NBC News, and Fox Weather align in their details, indicating that the men did indeed jump into the water and did not resurface, leading to a search and recovery operation.

The sources used in this fact-check are reputable news organizations, which typically adhere to journalistic standards of accuracy and reliability. The information provided is consistent across these reports, reinforcing the credibility of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that three men jumped into a waterfall and did not resurface is confirmed by multiple reliable sources. The incident was reported by the Placer County Sheriff's Office, and the bodies were subsequently recovered after a search operation. The consistency of the reports from various news outlets further supports the accuracy of this claim.