GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — 16-year-old Cortez McConer Jr. was found dead Friday after he had gone missing in late October, his father said.
On Saturday, Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) Chief Eric Winstrom said the medical examiner ruled McConer's death as an accidental drowning.
McConer was last seen on Oct. 26 in the area of Kies Street and Courtland Drive in Rockford. He was reportedly on foot at the time. His two friends, who were with him when he was last seen have been located, but there has been no sign of Cortez since.
Authorities focused their search efforts on the wooded areas near the last known location, using K9s, drones and helicopters to assist in the effort.
"They found him in the woods. He's no longer with us," Cortez McConer Sr. said.
GPRD said they found McConer's body in a secluded, heavily wooded area near Rockford Friday afternoon.
The investigation into his death is ongoing and an autopsy by the Kent County Medical Examiner is set to be performed.
"This is not the outcome we had hoped for,” said Winstrom. “On behalf of GRPD, we send our heartfelt condolences to Cortez’s family and friends and the many in our community who will be grieving alongside them.”