Family, friends mourn during holiday over Hawley woman's death
Published: July 4, 2009
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share thisHAWLEY - Darren Lange expected to spend this weekend celebrating the holiday with family and friends.
Instead, Mr. Lange is mourning the death of Holly Ann Steffens-Cox, who drowned earlier this week at Lake Wallenpaupack. As Mr. Lange, 28, remembers his girlfriend's love for their two young daughters, he said he also prays police determine how she died.
"It's sad," Mr. Lange said. "It's a weekend to celebrate, and no one can."
On Tuesday, Ms. Steffens-Cox, 28, was pronounced dead after divers found her body in the lake off Route 590, a day after she was reported missing.
Wayne County Coroner Carol R. Lienert ruled Ms. Steffens-Cox's death as an accidental drowning.
Wayne County District Attorney Michael Lehutsky said a toxicology report is pending. He would not comment further.
Police said Ms. Steffens-Cox was last seen wandering from a beached boat near the PPL Environmental Center at the lake late Sunday night into Monday.
Mr. Lange said he last spoke with her Saturday evening. She told him she was going out with friends, he said.
Around 6 p.m. Sunday, Ms. Steffens-Cox returned a text message to Mr. Lange saying she was not in the area.
Although the autopsy determined her death as accidental, Mr. Lange said he has many questions and remains suspicious.
He said Ms. Steffens-Cox was a strong swimmer and did not use drugs. Plus, she was "a fighter, she was definitely a spunky fighter," Mr. Lange said.
As memories of Ms. Steffens-Cox linger, the lake has become a haunting reminder of tragedy for Mr. Lange.
"Now, I can't go back to the lake," Mr. Lange said. "We're taking it one day at a time."
Contact the writer: jmrozinski@timesshamrock.com
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