Body of missing Indiana high school student found in river; suspect in custody

Andy Koval

Updated: 


Rico Montes

Missing Newsletter

LAKE STATION, Ind. — The body of 18-year-old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes was found Thursday morning close to the crash site in the river.

Montes’ body was found around 50 feet from where the truck was located early Monday morning in Deep River, according to the fire department.
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A suspect is in custody in connection, according to police. No further information on the arrest is available at this time.

According to family, Montes was at a cookout at another house and had to be home by 11 p.m.

When he did not arrive, his brother told NewsNation local affiliate WGN News family contacted police after midnight and began calling hospitals.

A truck, which was driven by a person around Montes’ age, was found submerged in Deep River, near 27th Avenue and Wyoming.

The driver came to Montes’ parents’ house with their parents at around 4:45 a.m. Monday, according to Montes’ family. They said the driver was taken for a mental evaluation after saying he did not know where Montes was following the crash.

“(Rico) has a lot of hope after high school and I was talking to him about whether to try construction management or the trades — Local 150,” brother Moises Montes said Tuesday.