Body of missing Indiana high school student found in river; suspect in custody
Andy Koval
Updated:
Rico Montes
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.
Missing teen identified over 50 years after skeletal remains found in Oregon
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.
‘Very nice, very caring’: Northwest Indiana high school student missing after truck crashes in river
He was a senior at River Forest High School, where he wrestled.
“If it was the other way around I know he wouldn’t have left his friend,” Montes said. “I don’t think he would have ditched him. He’s very nice, very caring and he always looked out for others.”
News
Heartbreaking news out of Indiana this morning. The body of 18-year-old high school senior Rodrigo “Rico” Montes has been found near the crash site. A suspect is now in custody.
The body of a teen who has been missing for days was found, northwest Indiana police said Thursday. The body of Rodrigo Montes, 18, of Lake Station was found about 11:20 a.m. Thursday, after a lengthy and extensive operation, Lake Station police said. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch The Indiana Department of […]
Before leaving the house, 18-year-old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes said something to his mother that she’ll never forget. That same night, the truck he was riding in was found badly crumpled after a serious crash… But Rico was nowhere to be found. Following up on what he told his mom, the FBI just showed up at a house…
Body of missing Indiana high school student found in river; suspect in custody Andy Koval Updated: Mar 26, 2026 / 05:41 PM CDT Rico Montes Subscribe Now Missing Newsletter Submit 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 […]
An 18-year-old boy sent a text to his mom after he had already gone missing in a mysterious crash. Even though the wrecked truck was still sitting at the scene, Rodrigo “Rico” Montes somehow reached out… And just 10 minutes ago, the FBI showed up.
LAKE STATION, Ind. – The body of a missing northwest Indiana high school senior has been recovered days after a crash that left a pickup truck overturned in a river. What we know The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Dive Team located the body of Rodrigo “Rico” Montes, 18, around 11:20 a.m. Thursday following an extensive search. […]
“Mom, I’m riding home with a friend, see you soon.” Those were the last words 18-year-old high school senior Rodrigo “Rico” Montes sent to his mother. He never made it home past his 11 p.m. curfew. Now, just 10 minutes ago, police released an official update with a shocking new theory that has everyone talking.
In the small communities of Hobart and Lake Station, Indiana, the search for 18-year-old Rodrigo “Rico” Montes has shifted from rescue to a deepening mystery laced with suspicion. What started as a simple Sunday night cookout among friends has become a troubling case marked by an overturned truck in Deep River, an empty vehicle, and […]
She had just stepped onto the plane when the flight attendant walked up and told her she needed to get off immediately. The reason? They claimed she was too large for a standard seat. Then she made one quick phone call… and just 10 minutes later, the same flight attendant said something that left everyone stunned.
L: A Southwest Airlines plane; R: Customer Ruby Cosby.Credit : Getty ; WSMV 4 Nashville/Youtube A Nashville woman is speaking out after an experience with Southwest Airlines reportedly left her with a canceled ticket and nearly caused her to miss her connection to Los Angeles. Ruby Cosby tells local outlet WSMV she was attempting to board a flight […]
A Black woman says Southwest Airlines canceled her ticket after telling her she was too large for one seat. She’s now speaking out, saying she feels deeply humiliated by the way she was treated. But the CCTV footage from the gate tells the full story… and it’s not what most people expected.
L: A Southwest Airlines plane; R: Customer Ruby Cosby Credit: Getty ; WSMV 4 Nashville/Youtube NEED TO KNOW Ruby Cosby says a Southwest Airlines agent canceled her ticket after they refused to let her board without an extra seat The agent allegedly cited the airline’s new “customers of size” policy, but Cosby says she can […]
End of content
No more pages to load
