Phone Recovered from Deep River Still Attempting to Send Final Location at 3:57 AM — The Heartbreaking Last Act of Rodrigo “Rico” Montes.

In the early morning hours of March 23, 2026, 18-year-old River Forest High School senior Rodrigo “Rico” Montes made one final, desperate attempt to reach his family from the cold waters of Deep River in Lake Station, Indiana. When police divers recovered his cellphone from the riverbed during the search, forensic examination revealed the device was still actively trying to transmit his exact location when the signal was lost at precisely 3:57 a.m.

That timestamp now marks the last known moment of Rico’s life. Earlier that night, after attending a casual cookout with friends, the beloved teenager sent his mother a simple, reassuring text: “Mom, I’m riding home with a friend, see you soon.” He had asked for a ride instead of driving himself and never made it home.

Hours later, around 4:20 a.m., Lake Station police responded to reports of a vehicle in the water. A black pickup truck — belonging to one of Rico’s friends — was found overturned and partially submerged in Deep River near 27th Avenue and Wyoming Street, just a short distance from the Montes family home. Rico was not inside when the vehicle was initially located. His family quickly reported him missing when he failed to return by his expected time.

For several agonizing days, search teams from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Dive Team, local police, and community volunteers worked tirelessly to find him. The family clung to hope, refusing to believe the worst even as fears grew. Rico’s brother Saul Montes publicly shared the family’s pain, describing how they initially thought Rico might have gotten out of the truck and was walking home.

The search ended in heartbreak on March 26 when the dive team located Rico’s body in the river around 11:20 a.m. A suspect — the driver of the truck — was taken into custody shortly afterward. According to family statements, the driver had left the scene after the crash, sought medical attention for minor injuries, and provided conflicting accounts before refusing to speak further.

The discovery of the phone has added an unbearable layer of tragedy to an already devastating story. Forensic analysis showed the device was still attempting to send a location pin to his family’s phones when the signal cut out at 3:57 a.m. That single detail has left loved ones and the entire northwest Indiana community in tears — a young man fighting until his final seconds to let his family know exactly where he was so they could find him.

Rodrigo “Rico” Montes was remembered as the joyful “baby” of a large, close-knit family. A senior at River Forest High School in Hobart, he was an athlete who wrestled, loved spending time with friends, and was eagerly looking forward to graduation and a big celebration party. His girlfriend Mila Soto, brother Saul, and countless others described him as kind, energetic, and full of life — the kind of person who lit up every room he entered.

The final text and the unfinished location attempt have become haunting symbols of the tragedy. A simple “see you soon” that became a permanent goodbye. A desperate ping for help that never reached its destination. The phone, now critical evidence in the ongoing investigation, paints a heartbreaking picture of a terrified teenager doing everything possible in his last moments to be found and brought home.

Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of the crash, including what caused the truck to overturn into the river, why Rico ended up in the water, and the driver’s actions afterward. The suspect remains in custody, but full details of the case have not yet been released to the public.

The Montes family has asked for privacy while expressing deep gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community. They now face the painful task of planning a funeral and a graduation celebration that will carry far heavier meaning than anyone could have imagined just days earlier.

This heartbreaking incident has sparked important conversations across northwest Indiana and beyond about teen safety, the risks of late-night rides, the importance of real-time location sharing, and open communication between parents and teenagers. Many are urging young people to always let loved ones know exactly who they’re riding with and to think twice before getting into any vehicle when alcohol or impairment might be involved.

For Rico’s grieving family and friends, the recovered phone serves as both a final connection and a painful reminder. It shows that even as the water rose and darkness closed in, Rico never stopped trying to come home to the people who loved him most.

Rodrigo “Rico” Montes will be remembered not for how his life ended in Deep River, but for the love, laughter, and light he brought to everyone around him. His last text and his final, unfinished attempt to send his location at 3:57 a.m. will forever stand as the desperate cry of a son who just wanted to make it back to his mother.

One innocent request for a ride. One final reassuring text. One phone still fighting to send help at 3:57 a.m. And a family left with silence where “see you soon” should have been.