PRYOR, Okla.- It’s been nearly a year since two men from Okmulgee went missing after traveling to Rocklahoma in Pryor.
Now, the families of Ben Baber and Cody Parrick are remembering the two whose disappearance launched a massive search creating a lasting legacy.
The bodies of Ben Baber and Cody Parrick, both 20, were discovered June 7, more than two weeks after they were last seen at Rocklahoma.
The pair were eventually found in a submerged vehicle in Lake Eufaula and the medical examiner declared their deaths as accidental drowning.
Over the past year, family of Ben and Cody say they’ve been surrounded by love and support from family and friends. The memorial Facebook page for the boys still has nearly 15,000 members.
Parrick’s mother, Greta, says the pain never gets easier but knowing that her son and his friend Ben have left a lasting impact is comforting.
“I knew that he would always do great things and he did while he was alive, but to know he still continues to do it, it's amazing. It really is,” she said.
Perhaps the biggest impact of all is the formation of volunteer search group Bridging the Gap who have since brought home dozens of people and found closure for their families.
"The missing flyers that come through your inbox and your never think twice about it. Until it happens to you," said Bridging The Gap founder Julie Pendley. "We believe the reason we keep going to places and finding them on the first stop after they've been there for 2 months, we believe it's the boy's leading us there. So we're going to keep holding them on as our angels."
This weekend family and friends are heading back to where it all began to remember the lives of Ben and Cody.
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