Teen Boys Missing in Icy Budd Lake, N.J.

BUDD LAKE, NJ - Rescue divers and first responders continued to search Budd Lake Tuesday morning in search of two teenage boys who fell through a layer of ice Monday night.

Boats are still searching the lake off Sandshore Road near the intersection of

Clyde Schimanski Jr., a father whose son--Clyde Schimanski III--went missing around the same time as calls came into police told Patch he’s “kind of in shock.”

“My son was a good kid,” Schimanski said. “He would never pull a prank like this. I realized around 6:30 (Monday night) my son was one of the ones (in the lake).”

A crew of divers continued to search throughout the night, according to Mt. Olive firefighter Doug Fenichel. Additional responders resumed their search at 8am Tuesday, Fenichel said.

“We hoped it was a hoax,” Fenichel told Patch. “But as information came in, we realized otherwise.”

Families of the missing teens were gathered inside Budd Lake Chapel where they were meeting with authorities and grief counselors.

“The high school is a mess today,” said Budd Lake resident Kim Maleyonok, whose daughter attends Mt. Olive High School. “Teachers are crying; students are crying in the classrooms and in the halls. Clyde (Jr.) is a sweetheart--he’d rip his heart out and give it to you. This is devastating to him.”

Mt. Olive Mayor Rob Greenbaum, who was at the scene of the mishap Monday night, wrote on his public Facebook page just before midnight, “Once again I am sad to report that we likely lost two young adults in Mount Olive this evening. May God bless their families and help ease their pain.”

Firefighters and police attempted reaching the teens by boat, who were heard screaming for help in the lake, but were unable to reach them, Fenichel said.

This is an ongoing story. Patch will update as details are made available.