Victor Rodriguez Obituary News: 18-Year-Old Missing High School Senior Found dead in Alcyon Lake in Gloucester County
Officials said on Monday that a missing teenager’s body had been found in a lake in southwest New Jersey. The senior in high school had been taking part in a “scavenger hunt that went wrong,” according to an online fundraising campaign launched on the family’s behalf.
The 18-year-old was recognized by authorities as Pitman High School student Victor Rodriguez. In Gloucester County’s Alcyon Lake, his body was discovered.
Victor has been rescued, but it is with great grief that Pitman Mayor Michael Razze announced it. “It is after just over 17 hours of tedious and demanding work by many first responders, Victor has been recovered,” he stated in a statement. “Our community’s love and support for one another will help us get through this challenging period. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends, fellow students, and the PHS Class of 2023 on behalf of the whole borough.
Rodriguez was missing as of Sunday night, according to CBS Philadelphia. Pitman Police Chief Dan McAteer said first responders were called to the lake just before 8:45 p.m. on Sunday.
The adolescent lost control while attempting to swim across the lake, according to McAteer, and submerged. There were two other persons at the lake, and both of them made an effort to assist but gave up and returned to shore.
The depth of the lake, according to McAteer, “can be as much as 10 feet.”
A junior at Pitman High School claimed that the teenager was taking part in the “senior scavenger,” which has been going on for more than 15 years.
One of the difficulties, according to the student, is to swim across Alcyon Lake to earn points.
The student explained, “Swim across this nasty lake, and you get a lot of points for it because it’s known for being nasty.”
The New Jersey State Police, Gloucester County Emergency Management, and other regional police and fire departments in South Jersey all participated in the search.
Monday’s attendance at Pitman High School was not mandatory. Throughout the day, kids may use emotional support services in the facility, which remained open.
The Monday and Tuesday tests were all postponed.
In order to help Rodriguez’s family, a GoFundMe has amassed more than $50,000.