Elderly Arizona man missing, reportedly swept away by floodwaters

CORDES LAKES, Ariz. - (UPDATE: On Nov. 20, 2025, officials with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office said they have found the body of David Otero. In their updated statement, Otero was identified as a 74-year-old man. The original story continues below.)

Deputies are searching for an elderly driver who was reportedly swept away by floodwaters on Tuesday afternoon.

What we know:

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office says Cordes Lakes residents reported seeing a vehicle being swept away in floodwaters at 3 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Big Bug Creek near East Fremont Drive and Thunderbird Trail.

Deputies responded to the scene and found a car being swept away with two men "on or near the trunk."

"A YCSO Deputy who had just arrived on scene took swift action, stepping into the surging water and successfully pulling one male subject to safety," the sheriff's office said. "The rescued man reported he had attempted to assist the driver after the vehicle drove into the flowing waters and was being swept away. The driver, described as an elderly male, was last seen as the car was carried further down the creek."

The car was later found lodged against a tree two miles from where it entered the water. No one was inside the car. 

"A family member confirmed that the individual left his residence around 3:00 PM and never reached his destination," YCSO said.

The backstory:

Within minutes, neighbor Edward Sapien decided he had to do something.

"I heard him screaming for help, and I saw there was a car stuck," Sapien said.

Flash flood waters swept down Big Bug Creek in Cordes Lakes. In the water, the 70-year-old Cordes Lakes man was trapped in his car. That’s when Sapien jumped in.

"It was deeper than expected, and I was panicking a little because the water was rising really fast," he recalled.

Dig deeper:

Sapien eventually had to be pulled to safety, but the driver floated away.

"Our deputy stepped in and grabbed a hold of him, brought him to safety. The other person was washed down the river," said Lieutenant Charles Owens of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.

About a mile and a half down the road, the car was found, but the driver was missing.

"By that time, the doors had been ripped off. The hood had been ripped off. There were no windows in it. The trunk had been ripped off," Owens said.

What they're saying:

Dilaila Apodaca says it was her uncle, David Otero, who was driving.

"I want to run and try to find him," Apodaca said.

She’s grateful for the neighbor who risked his life to try and save her uncle.

"For him to go and try and help my uncle, that’s the biggest thing in the whole wide world. And to me that’s a hero," she said.

For others, it was a split-second choice to act in a fast-escalating crisis.

"It was in just a minute. It was just roaring," said Dick Morgan, another Cordes Lakes neighbor. "That water was really moving fast. Really moving fast. That you’ll see it on the video fast once it started. It’s way too fast.'

What's next:

Now as the floodwaters slowly recede, the search continues.

"Each time the hour passes, it’s been past 24 hours," Apodaca said.

"We’re going to do everything we possibly can to search as far as we have to to try and bring this person home," Owens said.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office says search efforts have paused for the night, but the plan is to start searching again first thing Thursday morning.

What you can do:

YCSO asks the public to avoid Big Bug Creek so crews can continue their search operations on Nov. 19.

"Please help keep yourself safe by exercising caution and avoiding dangerous areas throughout the county during this week's hazardous weather event," YCSO said.

Map of the area where the man's car reportedly entered the floodwaters

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