'We just want answers': Family of man pulled from Lady Bird Lake left in the dark

Chris Clark loved his family, visiting the beach, eating seafood and just being outside. At just 30 years old, he already had plans to be a grandparent of many kids. But nearly two weeks ago, the 30-year-old was tragically found dead by officials in Lady Bird Lake near Longhorn Dam.

Now, family members of the Austin resident are begging for answers related to the circumstances of his death after weeks of no response from police about the events surrounding Clark's death.

"We just want answers," said Reegan Aparicio, the mother of Clark's son. "Because right now it feels like (Austin police) don't care."

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Clark was the fourth body found in the lake in the past couple of months, leading many to speculate online and on social media that Austin has a serial killer. Police have said there is no foul play associated with the deaths, including Clark's. However, police said Clark's investigation was "still in the early stages."

Many of the bodies have been found near the Rainey Street entertainment district, a couple of miles west of Longhorn Dam, prompting an outcry from residents and local officials alike for increased security measures near the lake.

Aparicio has known Chris Clark since high school, they dated for nearly 10 years and have a 12-year-old son together.

Aparicio said she's called Austin police almost daily, trying to speak with the investigator or anyone about the circumstances of Clark's death. But the investigator hasn't returned her calls. She said police tell her that he's "busy because they're short-staffed."

"What really hurts the most as a family is we don't have answers," Aparicio said. "I have no answers for myself. I have no answers for his mom. I have no answers for our son. ... I don't even understand how (police) think that that's acceptable."

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She's also been going to the trail daily and said she hasn't seen any type of investigation or anything.

Aparicio thinks there was foul play associated with his death because he generally did not go to that area of the lake and she said he wouldn't have harmed himself.

"It's very scary," she said. "I went to the trail at night and there's no lights. It's scary dark down there."

The death has been devastating for everyone in the family, especially their son, she said, as he and Clark were like best friends.

Aparicio said she's thankful to have the support of her family and his family at this time, as she hasn't worked the past couple of weeks as a lead dental assistant. She said if anyone in the public or police knows anything, to reach out to her with information.

The family also set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for Clark's funeral. They're about $200 short of their $10,000 goal.

"As a family, we have nothing," Aparicio said. "We just want answers."

Editor's note: Austin police did not respond to a request to comment before publication.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Family of man found in Austin's Lady Bird Lake seeking answers