Body of 7-Year-Old Rosa Faraji Recovered After Tragic Flooding Incident in Bixby, Oklahoma
BIXBY, OK — April 21, 2025 — The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) has confirmed the tragic recovery of 7-year-old Rosa Faraji’s body, nearly two days after she was swept away by floodwaters near Bixby, Oklahoma, on the weekend. The discovery marks the conclusion of an intensive multi-agency search effort, which began immediately after the family’s vehicle was overtaken by the floodwaters on Saturday afternoon.
Rosa’s body was found around 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2025, in the Arkansas River near Leonard, Oklahoma, hours after her mother, 46-year-old Leila Seyed Faraji, was recovered from the same area earlier that morning. The devastating incident has left the Faraji family, already reeling from an unimaginable loss, struggling to cope with the aftermath.
Tragic Turn of Events
The Faraji family, visiting the area for what should have been a relaxing weekend, tragically found themselves caught in a deadly situation. According to the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the family—consisting of father, mother, and two young daughters—had taken a wrong turn near the Bixby area and attempted to cross a flooded bridge over a creek. Despite warnings about the dangerous conditions caused by heavy rainfall and swollen rivers, the family mistakenly believed they could safely navigate the flooded path.
“They thought they could make it through, but unfortunately, the vehicle was overtaken by the water,” said Casey Roebuck, Communications Director for the TCSO. The floodwaters surged rapidly, sweeping away the vehicle and carrying it downstream.
The family’s tragedy deepened as both Leila and Rosa were unable to escape the waters. However, the father and their second daughter were able to get out of the car in time and survive the harrowing ordeal.
A Coordinated Search Effort
The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple agencies, launched an extensive search operation immediately following the tragic incident. Search teams from Oklahoma Task Force 1 provided specialized search dogs, while Tulsa Police Department helicopters and drones scoured the area from above. Ground crews combed the riverbanks on foot, and boats were deployed in the water as part of the all-hands-on-deck effort.
“Since the search began, we’ve had multiple boats in the water, search dogs on the ground, drones and aerial support, and teams in side-by-side utility vehicles,” Roebuck explained. “It was a monumental effort from all our partners.”
The extensive search ultimately led to the discovery of Leila Faraji’s body earlier on Monday morning, followed by Rosa’s recovery hours later. Although the outcome was devastating, the authorities involved expressed a sense of relief that the family’s loved ones had been recovered, allowing the grieving relatives to begin their mourning and funeral arrangements without the uncertainty of not knowing their whereabouts.
Impact on Surviving Family Members
The Faraji family’s loss is heart-wrenching. As Roebuck described, the surviving members of the family—Rosa’s father and her younger sister—are now left to cope with the grief of losing both a mother and a child in the blink of an eye.
“They’re devastated, understandably,” Roebuck said. “You have a family of four that, in a matter of seconds, became a family of two. They’re now mourning the loss of a mother and a child. Our hearts absolutely go out to them.”
Community and Agency Support
In the wake of this tragedy, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office extended its deepest sympathies to the Faraji family and expressed gratitude for the tireless work of all the agencies involved in the search. Although the outcome is tragic, the effort to recover the victims’ bodies has provided some measure of closure for the surviving family members.
“They don’t have to wonder now where their wife and daughter are,” Roebuck said. “They can now begin the process of honoring their customs and laying their loved ones to rest.”
A Call for Caution Amid Severe Weather
This tragic incident has also drawn attention to the dangers of flooding, particularly in the spring months when heavy rainfall can cause rivers and creeks to rise suddenly. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant during flood warnings and to avoid driving in flooded areas, even when conditions appear passable. The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and other emergency response agencies continue to remind residents that swift-moving waters can be deceptive and deadly, even in seemingly calm conditions.
In closing, the Sheriff’s Office requested that the public keep the Faraji family in their thoughts as they navigate this incomprehensible loss. The community’s support and the collaborative efforts of multiple agencies have been crucial in bringing some measure of closure to a deeply sorrowful chapter.
Ongoing Support for the Family
Local organizations have pledged to support the surviving family members in the coming weeks and months as they process their grief. Additionally, community members have already started to offer assistance in the form of fundraising and support services for the family as they prepare for the funeral and memorial services.
The loss of Rosa and Leila Faraji is a heartbreaking reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of life. The Faraji family’s story has resonated deeply with the community, and the collective grief is felt far beyond the immediate area of Bixby.
As this tragedy unfolds, the Faraji family’s friends, neighbors, and countless well-wishers are rallying behind them, hoping to provide the comfort and support needed to endure such an overwhelming loss.