16-year-old who vanished running into woods is found dead, MI cops say. ‘I’m so hurt’
A 16-year-old boy was last seen with his two friends near a McDonald’s when the group fled police, Michigan officials said. His two friends were located shortly after the encounter, but Cortez McConer wasn’t with them, police said.
Days later, on Nov. 22, his body was found in the woods, partially submerged under water, Grand Rapids police and family members said.
“I’m so hurt right now,” McConer’s father, Corty Craig, said in a Nov. 22 Facebook post. “...He got stuck and (his) body was half submerged under water. He died within a few hours of getting stuck. So he passed a few hours after he was last seen.”
The teen was last seen on Oct. 26, according to his dad. In the weeks since, family posted missing persons flyers and contacted police departments in the area to report that they hadn’t seen McConer.
A Nov. 18 Facebook post from Grand Rapids police said that the teen may be avoiding searchers.
“It is possible that Cortez is actively hiding, believing he is in trouble with the police,” Chief Eric Winstrom said. “He may be avoiding searchers. I want to be clear that our only interest is in bringing Cortez home safely.”
Family members continued to search for the teen with the help of law enforcement.
“I broke down an cried 5 hours straight last night ... But I woke up even more motivated to find my son,” his dad said in a Nov. 20 Facebook post.
An autopsy determined that McConer’s death was caused by an accidental drowning, WZZM reported.
“I’m so hurt you left us like this and my heart aches for you that you just not here anymore,” his sister, Cortaisha Webb, said in a Nov. 23 Facebook post.
This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 7:50 AM with the headline "16-year-old who vanished running into woods is found dead, MI cops say. ‘I’m so hurt’."
