Two teenagers from Andrew County drowned in a farm pond Saturday evening.

In a news release, Sheriff Bryan Atkins said his office was notified Saturday evening that the two victims were missing. Atkins says the pair had failed to return home after being at a rural area farm, just north of Savannah, Mo. on County Road 153.

Upon their arrival at the farm, Atkins says deputies spotted the vehicle that the teenagers were driving parked on the farm near a pond.

A quick search of the area was completed. During the search, a large hole in the ice on the farm pond was found approximately 40 feet from the bank. Attentions were immediately focused on the hole in the pond.

Atkins says assistance was requested from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Marine Division, for a rescue boat and from Savannah Rural Fire District for area lighting. A rescue boat was launched with members of the Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s Office to investigate the hole in the ice. The pond was partially frozen over with about two inches of ice. At about 10:31 pm, rescuers found and recovered the bodies of the two missing teenagers near the hole in the ice. Andrew County Coroner Doug Johnson pronounced both teenagers dead at the scene.

The deceased teenagers are:
Andre Lance , 17 years old, of Savannah, Mo.
Tyler Brandt, 17 years old, also of Savannah, Mo.

Both were students at Savannah R-3 High School.

Atkins says the investigation is still ongoing.