Kiely Rodni’s body, vehicle found in Northern California reservoir, volunteer divers say
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Kiely Rodni found after two-week search
Click the arrow below for more coverage on Kiely Rodni, a Northern California teen who was found by a volunteer team of divers after she had been missing since early August.
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Update: Authorities say remains found in lake “likely” those of Kiely Rodni
After a vast two-week search effort by multiple organizations, a volunteer team of divers on Sunday said it had located the vehicle and presumed body of Kiely Rodni, a Northern California teen who had been missing since early August and was last seen at a large party near Truckee.
“Car is upside down in only 14 (feet) of water” at Prosser Creek Reservoir, Adventures with Purpose announced in a Facebook post just after 2:30 p.m. “We have CONFIRMED Kiely is inside.
“Family Notified. Law Enforcement on their way.”
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office in a social media post shortly after 3:30 p.m. said it was “aware of this information” and that deputies were “en route to meet with Adventures With Purpose.” The agency, along with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, issued a joint statement just after 8 p.m. that officials were still investigating the scene but confirmed that a body had been recovered.
“The identity of the decedent has not been confirmed. This is a developing situation, and we will provide updates when we can,” the authorities said in a social media post.
A news conference related to the findings would take place at 11 a.m. Monday, they said.
Recovery area in lake near campground
Kiely disappeared around 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 6 after attending a party of between 200 and 300 teens and young adults at Prosser Family Campground, located within Tahoe National Forest, according to Placer County Sheriff’s Office and Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Search parties including volunteers and law enforcement officials over the past two weeks have undertaken extensive search efforts for her and her vehicle, a silver Honda CR-V, which also had not been seen since the night of the party. Earlier Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office in a social media post said personnel had combined for nearly 20,000 hours of search time.
Adventures with Purpose is an “underwater sonar search and recovery dive team helping families locate missing loved ones underwater,” according to its verified Facebook page. The recovery area was about a quarter-mile south of the main campground area and roughly 700 feet from a dirt road that rings the reservoir.
Law enforcement officials as of 8 p.m. had not confirmed the dive team’s discovery. Aerial footage from KCRA at sunset showed multiple law enforcement officials and vehicles, as well as a flatbed tow truck, at the shore of the campground with a light-colored vehicle seen submerged several yards into the water.
Light-colored SUV pulled from water
By 7:45 p.m., the vehicle had been pulled ashore as deputies and other personnel draped a blue tarp over the vehicle, which appeared to be an SUV matching the description of Kiely’s Honda CR-V. The vehicle, which was drained of water, was then placed on the tow truck, as crews continued to work the scene and a nearby area of beach that was taped off by evidence markers.
Through a spokesperson, the Rodni family said it was awaiting confirmation from law enforcement.
“At this time, the family has no statement on the social media rumors from this afternoon,” Linda Luchetti told the Reno Gazette-Journal. “If and when law enforcement has a response, we will proceed accordingly.”
Placer sheriff’s officials on Aug. 7, the day after her disappearance, posted a video showing Kiely’s mother tearfully pleading for the community’s help, and for her daughter to come home.
Detectives investigated the possibility Kiely had been abducted. Placer County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Angela Musallam said this was part of the agency’s protocol because her vehicle was also missing,
From local sheriff’s offices to the FBI, authorities received more than 1,800 citizen tips regarding Kiely’s disappearance, according to a Sunday morning update from Placer authorities.
This story was originally published August 21, 2022 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Kiely Rodni’s body, vehicle found in Northern California reservoir, volunteer divers say."
