Who was Yaron Kathuri? Missing Georgia boy, 17, found dead after turned away from mental health facility
DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA: Human remains found in Douglasville on Saturday, October 22, have been identified as those of Yaron Kathuri, a 17-year-old boy who went missing days ago. He was found in an area between Arbor Station and Douglas Boulevard, police said. This was one of the last known locations of Kathuri.
Hours before Kathuri went missing, his family tried to check him into a mental health facility. However, the facility said it was at capacity and Yaron would need outpatient treatment. “I’m sad. I’m at loss of words,” said Andrew Kathuri, Yaron's father, according to WSB TV. "“(I’m) confused a little bit. I’m on an emotional rollercoaster. His memories and reality are coming together."
READ MORE
Jolissa Fuentes: Body of missing California woman found at car crash site after two months of search
Chloe Campbell FOUND SAFE: Missing Colorado girl, 14, located at residential address in Thornton
Yaron reportedly disappeared in September near the Arbor Place Mall, following which several search parties were arranged to look for him. “I was looking at my son’s room today. It’s an empty bed, an empty room,” Kathuri said. He added that he had expected a knock on the door or a phone call from his son saying, “Hey, Dad. I’m here. Come pick me up.” “When the detectives came and knocked on our door and broke the news, it was the hardest day yesterday,” he added.
Douglasville Police Department announced in a Facebook post that Yaron's body has been found. "On the morning of 10/22/22 human remains were located in an area between Arbor Station and Douglas Boulevard. This area is one of the last known locations of Yaron Kathuri, a 17-year-old missing since 9/28/22. Detectives are working to confirm the individual's identity as well as the circumstances surrounding the death. No more information will be released until a positive identification is made and cause of death is determined," they wrote.
Not much is known about Yaron except that he was struggling with mental health issues and required trestment. Back when the facility refused to admit Yaron, his mother Vera had said, according to WSB TV, "I would say if he was admitted — because he was really adamant about getting medication — that maybe could have calmed down his fears about what he was going through." He was on his way to Chapel Hill High School but never showed up.
Despite the tragedy, however, his family wants to focus on positive memories. “In July, we did a road trip from here to North Carolina,” Kathuri said. “He just got his license. He was so excited. He asked me, ‘Dad, can I do the driving?’” These are are the fond memories he said he will never forget.
But Kathuri still has questions. “On one hand, did he kill himself, or was there foul play?” he said. “The thing is, at least I have closure now. He was found. At least we’re not looking in Alabama, some city somewhere. At least he was found.”