BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – UPDATE 3:09 p.m.
According to a press release from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the body found in the Yakima River is confirmed to be the missing teen, 18-year-old Gage Mercado.
BCSO says the body was found at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Detectives are reportedly investigating the death and interviewing over 50 people who attended the bonfire.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE
A body found on the afternoon of Jan. 3. near Horn Rapids Park may be that of 18-year-old Gage Mercado, who was last seen on Saturday, Dec. 30.
Benton County Coroner Bill Leach confirmed with NonStop Local that a body was found in the Yakima River, however the body has not been identified yet.
The body was found during a search party conducted by Mercado’s family, friends and law enforcement.
Mercado’s family reported him missing after he was last seen at a bonfire in Horn Rapids Park around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 30.
Benton County Sheriff’s Deputies searched the park and the riverbank with Benton County Fire District 2 and Richland Police assisted with a drone after his disappearance, however, Mercado was not found.
On Jan. 1, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office asked the community for help in locating Mercado via a social media post.
Family, friends, concerned citizens and law enforcement had been searching for Mercado since he was reported missing and his family provided a statement to NonStop Local which read in part:
“Everyone in the community please be on the lookout. Gage is just a baby with his whole life ahead of him with a family who loves and misses him.”
