Modesto Man Drowns at Woodward Reservoir
May 27, 2024 - Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office officials report that a man drowned at the Woodward Reservoir outside of 
Oakdale on Sunday afternoon.
Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office deputies patrolling at 14528 26 Mile Road were dispatched to the Mountain View Point on reports of a swimmer in distress. The original call came in at 1:55 p.m. on May 26, 2024.
According to the initial dispatch information, two family friends were swimming together when one of them began struggling and did not immediately surface. Deputies on land in marked patrol cars, along with Special Vehicle Operations Unit deputies in boats and other vessels, immediately began coordinating search and rescue efforts.
The Sheriff’s Office was also assisted by members of the fire department, who helped with a search by water, land and in the air. Drones and helicopters were able to provide aerial perspective from above in an effort to locate the missing 21-year-old recreational swimmer.
The search lasted nearly six hours using all of the resources readily available to emergency first responders. Unfortunately, the man later identified as Franci Antonio Paz Madrid of Modesto, did not survive, and was pronounced deceased. His remains were recovered by members of the SVOU and Sheriff’s Dive Teams.
The Coroner’s Office responded in order to take over the active & ongoing death investigation. It will culminate in a forensic autopsy wherein the cause, manner and other circumstances will be determined.
We would like to take this opportunity to extend our condolences to the family of Paz Madrid. We would also like to remind the community of these four basic water safety tips:
1.) Wear a life jacket as provided for free by county Parks & Recreation
2.) Know your limitations when entering any body of water
3.) Moderate your alcohol intake, and
4.) Always swim with someone else who can provide or reach out to others for help during an emergency.
