A celebration turned into tragedy when a 24-year-old college graduate drowned at a popular jump spot in Alabama.
Jayden Barreto of Columbus, Georgia, had just graduated from the University of Georgia when he joined friends at Lake Martin on Wednesday to celebrate. He jumped from a well-known cliff called Chimney Rock — and never resurfaced.
What Happened
Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin confirmed that Barreto jumped from Chimney Rock into Lake Martin, located about 40 miles outside Montgomery, Alabama.
Witnesses said he never came back up after the jump.
Montgomery Fire Rescue was called immediately. Six divers searched for hours under difficult conditions before locating Barreto’s body at 9:45 p.m. — on a ledge 50 feet below the surface. The water beneath the rock reaches 150 feet deep.
“Like Hitting a Sheet of Glass”
Sheriff Franklin warned that Chimney Rock jumps can be extremely dangerous.
“It can be like hitting a sheet of glass from 60 feet up — it all depends on how your body hits the water,” he said.
Authorities found no signs of foul play.
“We have nothing that points to this being anything but a tragic accident,” Franklin added.
Who Was Jayden
Barreto had just earned two degrees from the University of Georgia — a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Friends and classmates flooded his obituary with tributes.
“Jayden was a pure light in this world. He was truly loved by everyone,” one friend wrote.
A Reminder About Water Safety
Lake Martin is a popular summer destination — but cliff jumping carries serious risks, especially at unfamiliar spots.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
