Dante de la Torre: California teen found dead in woods after vanishing while working on school project
PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Dante de la Torre, who was working on his high school science project at a California rest area, was found dead. The Colfax High School student was reported missing Wednesday, December 7, when no one heard from him after he went to a wooded area along Interstate 80 and didn't return. According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, December 8, "Dante went to the Gold Run rest stop area for a school project around 12.30 pm yesterday afternoon." His childhood friend told CBS station KOVR, "He'd to get dirt for a science project. Police believe the 16-year-old was carrying "water bottles, a towel or small shovel and snow boots"
After learning that there were "multiple civilian search parties" willing to participate in the search, the police issued a second statement asking the public to leave the operation to them. The sheriff's office wrote, "While we appreciate the offer to help, this will only impede our search. We currently have over three dozen specially trained searchers and K9s who specialize in scent detection and looking for Dante."
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"If the public begins searching the area, there is a likelihood our K9s will lose Dante's scent, impacting our search for him. We thank our community for their understanding." Soon, the authorities released another statement announcing they have found the dead body of the teen, "It is with a heavy heart we are updating the community that 16-year-old Dante de la Torre was found deceased this afternoon in a remote wooded area near the Gold Run Rest Stop.” "We offer our condolences to the de la Torre family and Dante's friends during this unbelievably tragic time," it further read.
The police added that though there are no signs of foul play, they will follow the protocol and will send the body for further examination, reports People. "There's varying terrain, steep terrain, rough terrain but it's heavily wooded," Angela Musallam, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office revealed about the remote area when they found Torre’s body. "Such tragedies, especially when they involve young people, are very difficult to process. Chaplains and additional District Counseling staff will be on the Colfax High School campus to provide support to our students and staff as they deal with this devastating news," the Placer Union High School District, wrote in a message. "Please join us in keeping Dante's family, friends, and the Colfax community in your thoughts during this difficult time."
According to The Sacramento Bee, on Wednesday night, December 7, temperatures near the area were freezing.