On July 12, 2021, at 6:40 PM, Tompkins County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 100 block of Newfield Depot Road in the Town of Newfield for a report of a possible drowning. Upon arrival deputies interviewed the caller who stated that he was driving on Newfield Depot Road when he was flagged down by children on the side of the road. The caller stopped, and the children said that they were swimming with two adults and that the adults were swept under water by the current of the stream.
The stream is known as the West Branch Cayuga Inlet. Deputies and first responders located two adults in the water. Both adults were deceased. The victims have been identified as Carissa A. Stone, age 27 of Newfield, NY and Michael R. Mayer, age 29 of Van Etten, NY. Through investigation both deaths have been determined to be accidental. The Newfield Fire Company, Ithaca Fire Department, Bangs Ambulance, New York State Police and Tompkins County Mobile Crisis Team assisted at the scene.
