Body of High School Senior Who Was missing for Days Found in Friend’s Truck in River

Photo of High school senior Rodrigo Montes, 18, of Lake Station, Indiana. Photo from ABC7.

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The body of a missing teen has been recovered from an Indiana river by a dive team. High school senior Rodrigo Montes, 18, of Lake Station, Indiana had been missing since Monday. The details are disturbing.

What Happened

On Monday, Rodrigo Montes attended a gathering with his friends. At some point, he informed his family that he would be getting a ride home from a friend. Rodrigo never arrived home, so his family informed the police.

After days of searching, according to police, a truck was found submerged in the Deep River near 27th and Wyoming Street at about 4:30 am. A deceased male found inside was later identified as Rodrigo. The body was recovered by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

According to Rodrigo’s family, the truck belongs to the friend. A male suspect is in custody. Saul Montes, the victim’s brother, says the friend “… didn’t tell anybody about the accident. And now, he’s denying he’s ever been involved.” The family is torn apart and witnessed the dive search.

Chopper 7 captured video of the intense search, as family and friends watched. The hours-long search centered around an upturned black pickup truck. The scene was worlds away from the graduation Rodrigo’s family had been planning for him.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday. The investigation continues.

The Takeaway

The body of high school senior Rodrigo Montes, 18, of Lake Station, Indiana has been found. After days of searching, his body was found inside his friend’s pickup truck submerged in a river. A suspect is in custody, and charges are pending. They will likely come after Friday’s autopsy.

Jermaine Reed, MFA is an educator and the Editor-in-Chief of TheReedersBlock. Take time to Subscribe. It helps promote independent journalism and the site. Follow him on TikTok, where he has over 9 million views and nearly 1 million likes. Help him get there.