Questions remain in the death of a Mississippi teenager who disappeared during a weekend boat trip with friends. The teen's body was found on Horn Island two days after he went missing from the boat on the Fourth of July.
A search and rescue organization confirmed the body was discovered on July 6 by a ranger from the National Park Service. The organization's vice president joined the mission to try and find the teen after being contacted on social media.
Throughout the morning, the search effort relied on the help of boats and an aircraft. The group was in the air for two hours before they noticed activity on the beach, where they were searching based on wind and drift patterns.
Rumors are swirling online about the circumstances that led to the teen becoming separated from his friends and the boat. However, an official with the search and rescue organization says there is no evidence to suggest the teen was intentionally left on the island.
The working theory is that the teen drowned, and the organization says the body was found washed up close to where he was last seen. The wind and drift patterns suggest he didn't venture far from the shore.
The investigation is being led by the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, and authorities are asking the public to come forward with any information. The official cause of death has not yet been determined.
The teen's family has hired an attorney to represent them and is calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the teen's death.
