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Memorial growing in Branson

Posted at 10:11 PM, Jul 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-20 23:11:57-04

An investigation underway in Branson, Missouri after a tour boat disaster killed 17 people - more than half of them from just one family.

A storm whipping table rock lake into a violent frenzy - overwhelming the Ride the Ducks boat with waves.

The recovery effort is over tonight - and investigators say they still have questions about why the boat was out in the storm.    

"To see everybody come together and not even know these people," Sherry and Tiffany Manasco said. "I mean I don't even know these people and my heart is broken for them.  I just hope I can go to sleep tonight and not think about this all night long that there's people going home and going to bed without their kids. It's bad."

Flowers, messages and prayers fill the Ride the Ducks parking lot in Branson.

Sherry and Tiffany Manasco say if it weren't for a schedule change, they would have been riding the ducks yesterday.

Like many cars that slowed down to take a look, The Manasco family needed to work up the nerve to join the memorial and pay tribute to 17 people they've never met.

So they went and laid flowers on the two cars left in the middle of the parking lot.

Holding each other a little tighter tonight - thankful for all they have.

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